2 Chronicles 36:5 Meaning: What Made Jehoiakim's Reign Evil?
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight.
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.
Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah his God.
A son of twenty and five years is Jehoiakim in his reigning, and eleven years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah his God;
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of Jehovah his God.
Meaning in one sentence
Jehoiakim chose evil despite his father Josiah's reforms. Discover what this verse reveals about knowing right yet doing wrong.
Context
The chapter records the final, swift decline of Judah. After the good king Josiah died, the people made his son Jehoahaz king, but Egypt deposed him after three months and installed his brother Eliakim instead, renaming him Jehoiakim. This verse introduces the new king's reign with a bare fact: he reigned eleven years, and he did evil in the Lord's sight. The rest of the chapter will show the consequences, Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, the temple plundered, and finally Jerusalem destroyed. Jehoiakim's story sits in the middle of this unraveling, and the verse sets the tone for what follows.
Key Words
The Hebrew word translated evil is ra‘ (רַע). It describes something bad, harmful, or morally wrong. In the Old Testament, it is often used for actions that break covenant with God, idolatry, injustice, violence. This is not a minor slip. It is a settled choice. The phrase in the sight of the Lord (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה) uses ‘ayin (eye). It pictures God watching, knowing, evaluating. Nothing is hidden from that gaze. And the verse adds his God (אֱלֹהָיו), Jehoiakim belonged to Yahweh by covenant. He was not a pagan king acting out of ignorance. He knew the God of Israel. His evil was a deliberate turning away from the One who had every claim on him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers across traditions have seen Jehoiakim as a sobering example of knowing better but doing worse. Many point to the contrast with his father Josiah, who led a sweeping reform. Jehoiakim reversed it. The Geneva Bible notes he did evil by following idolatrous practices. Matthew Henry emphasizes that he added oppression and bloodshed to idolatry. Commentators also connect his actions to the prophet Jeremiah, who confronted him directly, and Jehoiakim responded by burning the prophet's scroll and seeking to kill him (Jeremiah 36). His evil was not private; it corrupted how he ruled, how he treated the vulnerable, and how he responded to God's word.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that the verse simply records an ordinary king's failure, no different from many others. In fact, Jehoiakim was a king who had every advantage: a faithful father, clear prophetic warnings, and a covenant with God. His evil was not ignorance but stubborn refusal. The verse's weight comes from the two words his God. He knew the Lord, and still chose evil.
Living This Out
This week, the verse asks one hard question: where do you know right but do wrong? It might be in a habit you defend, a word you speak carelessly, or a choice to ignore what God has made clear. Jehoiakim's story is a warning that privilege, good upbringing, clear teaching, does not guarantee obedience. The question is not what you know, but what you do with what you know. That is something to carry into each day.
Main takeaway: Knowing the right thing and doing the wrong thing is not a slip; it is a choice, and God sees it clearly.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jehoiakim was a king who did bad things even though he knew God wanted him to do good. God sees everything we do. He wants us to choose what is right.
For ages 9, 12
Jehoiakim had a dad who was a good king, and he knew all about God. But he chose to do evil anyway, hurting people, worshiping idols, and even trying to kill a prophet. This verse reminds us that knowing right isn't enough. We have to actually do it. God watches how we live, not just what we say we believe.
Questions People Ask
Why does the verse say 'in the sight of Yahweh his God' instead of just 'in the sight of the Lord'?
The phrase 'his God' emphasizes the personal covenant relationship. Jehoiakim was not a foreign king; he was part of God's chosen people. His evil was a betrayal of that relationship, not just a general sin. It makes the judgment more personal and more serious.
What specific evil things did Jehoiakim do?
The Bible records several: he revived idolatry after his father Josiah had removed it, he oppressed his people with heavy taxes to pay tribute to Egypt, he built his palace with forced labor and unjust wages (Jeremiah 22:13), and he persecuted the prophet Jeremiah, burning his scroll and killing another prophet named Uriah (Jeremiah 26, 36).
How is Jehoiakim's reign connected to the exile?
Jehoiakim's reign began the process of exile. In his fourth year, Nebuchadnezzar attacked, bound him in fetters, and took some temple vessels to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:6-7). Jehoiakim became a vassal of Babylon, but his rebellion later brought further destruction. His evil set the stage for the full exile under his son and successor.
Why didn't Jehoiakim learn from his father Josiah's good example?
The Bible does not explain his motives, but commentators suggest he may have wanted political freedom from Egypt and Babylon, and he abandoned the Lord to form alliances. Also, the people were 'disinclined to the reforming policy of his father' (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown), so he may have followed popular pressure. His heart simply was not turned toward God.
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