Ἰεχονίας (Iechonias)
Iechonias
Jechoniah
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Iechonias, appearing in Matthew 1:11-12, is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jehoiachin, meaning "whom Jehovah establishes." This figure served as king of Judah for a brief period before being taken into Babylonian captivity. His inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus highlights a lineage marked by both royal promise and national exile.
Matthew uses this specific spelling to connect Jesus to the Davidic line, acknowledging the historical reality that the throne was interrupted by foreign rule. By naming him, the text does not shy away from the consequences of sin within Israel’s history, yet it affirms that God’s covenant promises endure despite human failure.
The presence of Iechonias in the list of ancestors underscores a key theological point: Jesus is the fulfillment of hope for a people who had experienced deep disappointment. His name reminds readers that God’s plan proceeds through real history, including its darkest moments, to bring about redemption.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Iechonias appears in Matthew’s genealogy as a reminder that Jesus’ roots are tied to real history, including its hardest moments. This king of Judah faced exile in Babylon, showing how sin and consequence touched even the royal line. Yet his presence here signals that God does not abandon His promises because of human failure.
For your faith, this means hope is not limited by past mistakes or broken systems. Jesus comes from a lineage marked by both promise and pain, proving that redemption can rise from exile. You can trust that God works through imperfect people and difficult seasons to bring about His good purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jeconiah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰεχονίας1×
- Ἰεχονίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 1:11
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
This verse marks the transition into exile, showing how Iechonias’ reign ended in displacement yet remained part of God’s unfolding plan.
-
Matthew 1:12
After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.
Here the genealogy continues after exile, demonstrating that God preserved the Davidic line despite political collapse and foreign rule.