Josiah (son of Zephaniah)
A person in the Bible. Also called Hen, Josiah son of Zephaniah, Hen son of Zephaniah.
| Classification | Biblical figure |
|---|---|
| Era | After the return from the Babylonian exile, in the reign of the Persian king Darius (roughly the late 6th century BC) |
| Father | Zephaniah |
| Related Figures | Heldai (Helem), Tobijah, Jedaiah, Joshua the high priest |
| Other Names | Hen |
| Biblical References | Zechariah 6:10, 6:14 |
Josiah, the son of Zephaniah, owned the house where a group of returned exiles gathered. He appears in Zechariah 6:10 and is called "Hen" in Zechariah 6:14.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Biblical Account
Josiah appears in Zechariah 6:9-15. The LORD commands the prophet Zechariah to receive silver and gold from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who had been taken captive, had returned from Babylon, and were staying at the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Zechariah is to go to that house the same day (Zechariah 6:10). From the silver and gold he is to make crowns and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and he delivers the word that the man whose name is "the BRANCH" will build the temple of the LORD (Zechariah 6:11-13). The crowns are then to be placed in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah (Zechariah 6:14).
This is all that Scripture records about Josiah. He owned the house where the returnees gathered, and his name was commemorated along with the crowns. Nothing is recorded about his occupation or his life.
Significance Within Scripture
These events took place after the return from exile, while the rebuilding of the temple was under way. Josiah's house was the place where the gifts sent by the Jews still living in Babylon were delivered. The crowns made from those gifts were used in the symbolic act of crowning the high priest Joshua. The New Testament does not mention this figure.
Interpretation and Debates
- The name "Hen": The "Josiah" of 6:10 appears as "Hen" in 6:14. This is commonly understood as another name or a nickname for the same person. The Hebrew word hen also means "grace" or "favor." Some scholars therefore read it not as a proper name but as "(in memory of) the kindness of the son of Zephaniah," taking it to commemorate the hospitality he showed in receiving his guests. Some modern translations render the word here as "Josiah."
- Distinction from other figures: He is a different person from Josiah, the reforming king of Judah. Likewise, the text gives no basis for identifying his father Zephaniah with Zephaniah, the prophet active during the reign of King Josiah, or with Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest mentioned in the book of Jeremiah.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this figure is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, sermons on Zechariah 6 usually focus on the crowns and on "the BRANCH" (a title read as a messianic prophecy). Josiah himself is rarely treated as the central figure in sermons or Sunday school lessons.
See also 8
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