צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ (tsid.qiy.yah)
tsid.qiy.yah
Zedekiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 61 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Tsidqiyahu, rendered in English as Zedekiah, carries the meaning "Yahweh is righteous." It combines the root for justice or rightness with the divine abbreviation for God. In the Hebrew Bible, this name appears roughly sixty times, attached to several different men across various periods of Israel’s history.
The most prominent figure bearing this name was the final king of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Originally named Mattaniah, he received the title Zedekiah from King Nebuchadnezzar when he was installed on the throne. Despite a name that declares God's righteousness, his reign ended in failure and captivity, a historical irony often noted by commentators.
The name is not exclusive to royalty. Scripture also records a false prophet named Zedekiah who served under King Ahab, as well as other officials and priests with the same name during the eras of Jeremiah and Nehemiah. This repetition highlights how common theophoric names were in ancient Judah, reflecting a cultural desire to associate personal identity with divine justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Zedekiah means 'Yahweh is righteous.' It appears in Scripture for several different men, most notably as the final king of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Originally named Mattaniah, he received this title from King Nebuchadnezzar. The irony is striking: a man named after God's justice rebelled against His chosen instrument of judgment. His story reminds us that a holy name does not guarantee a faithful life.
Yet the biblical record also includes other men named Zedekiah, such as priests and prophets who served during Jeremiah’s ministry. Their presence shows how common it was to carry names reflecting God’s character. For you, this word invites reflection on how your own identity is rooted in Christ. True righteousness comes not from a title or heritage, but from a heart aligned with God’s will.
When we face failure or the consequences of our choices, we can look to the broader narrative of Scripture. Even in judgment, God remains just. His promises endure beyond human weakness. This word encourages us to seek genuine righteousness in our daily walk, trusting that God’s justice is always perfect and reliable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 61 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Zedekiah54×
- of/ Zedekiah4×
- and/ Zedekiah2×
- like/ Zedekiah1×
- O Zedekiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ12×
- צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ9×
- צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ4×
- צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ4×
- צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ\׃3×
- צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ3×
- צִדְקִיָּ֥ה3×
- צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ3×
- צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ2×
- צִדְקִיָּ֣ה2×
- צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ2×
- צִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙2×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 24:17
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
This verse records the ironic renaming of Mattaniah to Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar, highlighting the contrast between the name's meaning and the king's eventual failure.
-
II Kings 25:7
They killed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
Here the word marks the tragic end of King Zedekiah’s reign, as he witnesses his sons’ death and is blinded before exile.
-
Jeremiah 21:3
Then Jeremiah said to them, “Tell Zedekiah:
King Zedekiah seeks Jeremiah’s counsel during the siege, showing his reliance on God’s prophet despite his own rebellious history.
-
Jeremiah 29:22
A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;’
The name becomes a curse among exiles when false prophets like Zedekiah son of Maaseiah lie in God’s name, leading to their destruction.