יְהוֹיָכִין (ye.ho.ya.khin)
ye.ho.ya.khin
Jehoiachin
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yĕhoyāḵîn, rendered in English as Jehoiachin, translates to "Jehovah establishes." It belongs to a king of Judah who reigned for only three months and ten days before surrendering to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. His brief rule ended with his deportation to Babylon, where he remained imprisoned for thirty-six years until finally released by a later Babylonian ruler.
Scripture records this name in several forms across different books. The Chronicles and Kings often use Jehoiachin or the variant Jeconiah, while Jeremiah refers to him as Coniah or Shallum. Despite the curse pronounced against his lineage in Jeremiah 22:30, he appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:11, listed as Jechoniah. This inclusion highlights a complex theological thread where royal judgment intersects with messianic hope.
His story serves as a historical marker for the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem. The sources emphasize his long captivity and eventual release, illustrating both the severity of divine judgment on Judah and the unexpected grace that preserved the line through which the Messiah would eventually come.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jehoiachin means "Jehovah establishes," yet his life story begins with a kingdom that was torn away. He reigned for only three months before being taken to Babylon, where he spent thirty-six years in prison. It is easy to see him as a figure of failure or divine punishment, but the biblical record shows something deeper: God’s promises are not easily broken by human sin.
Even though a prophecy declared that his line would cease to rule on David’s throne, history took an unexpected turn. After decades of captivity, he was released and honored in Babylon. This shift from prisoner to guest of the king hints at a grace that outlasts judgment. It reminds us that God’s plans often continue in ways we cannot predict.
For believers today, this name points to the enduring nature of God’s covenant. The very lineage marked by exile and shame eventually produced Jesus Christ. When our own lives feel like they have been interrupted or judged, we can look to this history and find hope. God is able to establish what seems lost, turning even the longest captivity into a prelude for restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jehoiachin10×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְהוֹיָכִ֣ין4×
- יְהוֹיָכִ֥ין3×
- יְהוֹיָכִ֤ין1×
- יְהוֹיָכִ֣ן1×
- יְהוֹיָכִ֖ין1×
Key Verses
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II Kings 24:15
He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, with the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the chief men of the land. He carried them into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
This verse records the actual deportation, marking the end of Jehoiachin’s freedom and the beginning of his long wait.
-
II Kings 25:27
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison,
Here we see the sudden shift from imprisonment to release, showing that God did not abandon him in the dark years.
-
Jeremiah 52:31
In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and released him from prison.
This parallel account emphasizes the lifting of his head, a gesture of dignity and favor after thirty-seven years of silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Jehoiachin mean?
How is Jehoiachin different from Jeconiah?
Why is Jehoiachin in Jesus’ genealogy?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 3 books)
II Kings 5 verses
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
II Kings 24:8Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name…
II Kings 24:12and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon—he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his…
II Kings 24:15He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, with the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the chief men of the…
II Kings 25:27In the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh…