2 Kings 23:36-37 Meaning: Why Name the King's Mother?
36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that his fathers had done.
36Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.
36Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.
36A son of twenty and five years is Jehoiakim in his reigning, and eleven years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Zebudah daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah,
37and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers did.
36Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Zebuddah, daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
37And he did evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.
Meaning in one sentence
The inclusion of Jehoiakim's mother's name and hometown grounds him in a real family, making his choice to do evil all the more personal.
Context
These two verses sit near the end of Kings' long account of Judah's decline. After Josiah's righteous reign, the nation quickly unraveled. Pharaoh Neco had deposed Josiah's son Jehoahaz and placed Eliakim on the throne, renaming him Jehoiakim. He was a puppet king from the start. The writer gives the standard regnal formula: age at accession, length of reign, and mother's name. But this formula is more than dry record-keeping. By naming Zebidah and her hometown Rumah, a village mentioned nowhere else in Scripture, the author pins Jehoiakim to a real family and a real place. Then comes the same verdict given to his evil ancestors: he did what was evil in Yahweh's sight. The personal details make the judgment land harder.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. Em means 'mother', a word full of origin and tenderness. The writer does not just list Zebidah; he names her, rooting the king in a specific woman from a specific place. It says: this king came from somewhere real. Then ra, 'evil', the same deep moral corruption that undid Manasseh and Amon. It is not a small mistake; it is a deliberate turning from God. Finally, avot, 'fathers' or 'ancestors.' The text says Jehoiakim did evil 'according to all that his fathers had done.' Those fathers were not the faithful Josiah but the generations who led Judah into idolatry. The choice of word is pointed: he followed the pattern he chose, not the one he was given.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage as a sobering study in human choice. Adam Clarke (Methodist) points to Jeremiah's description of Jehoiakim as a greedy, oppressive tyrant who shed innocent blood. Matthew Henry (Reformed) notes that 'Jerusalem saw not a good day after Josiah,' emphasizing the swift decline. Keil and Delitzsch (Lutheran) highlight that Jehoiakim reigned in the spirit of his ungodly forefathers, not his father. All read the same truth: a godly upbringing does not guarantee a godly life. The mother's name reminds us that God sees every person's origin, yet each person answers for their own path.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to assume that because Josiah was Jehoiakim's father, the phrase 'according to all that his fathers had done' refers to Josiah's good deeds. In fact, 'his fathers' here means his royal ancestors, chiefly Manasseh and Amon, who filled Jerusalem with idolatry and innocent blood. Josiah is the exception, not the pattern. The text highlights that Jehoiakim deliberately chose the evil way of his grandfathers, not the faithful way of his own father.
Living This Out
Maybe you grew up in a home where faith was real and practiced. Or maybe you did not. Either way, you still face a choice every day about which patterns you will repeat. Jehoiakim had the best example in Josiah, yet he turned toward the corruption of Manasseh. This week, take a honest look at the habits and attitudes you are carrying. Are they from those who walked with God, or from those who walked away? You are not stuck. One small decision to follow God today can start a new pattern for tomorrow.
Main takeaway: Your family story shapes you, but your choices decide who you become before God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jehoiakim was a king who did not follow God, even though his father Josiah did. God wants us to learn from the good people around us. You can choose to follow God, no matter what others do.
For ages 9, 12
Jehoiakim had a dad who loved God, but he decided to act like his wicked grandfathers instead. This shows us that we each have to make our own choice about following God. You don't have to repeat the mistakes of your family. God gives you the freedom to choose His way every day.
Questions People Ask
Why does the Bible include the name of Jehoiakim's mother?
In the books of Kings, the regnal formula for Judah's kings often includes the mother's name. For Jehoiakim, naming Zebidah and her hometown Rumah grounds him in a real family and a specific place, making his rebellion against God more personal and concrete.
What does 'according to all that his fathers had done' mean? Who are his fathers?
The phrase refers to his royal ancestors, especially Manasseh and Amon, who led Judah into deep idolatry and evil. Despite having a godly father in Josiah, Jehoiakim chose to follow the pattern of the wicked kings before him.
How is Jehoiakim different from his father Josiah?
Josiah reformed Judah and tore down altars to foreign gods; Jehoiakim oppressed his people, shed innocent blood, and allowed idolatry to return. The contrast shows that a godly upbringing does not guarantee a godly life.
Why is Rumah mentioned?
Rumah is a village not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, likely in the hill country of Judah. By including it, the writer emphasizes that Jehoiakim came from a humble, real place. It makes his story feel local and personal, not distant or legendary.
Did Jehoiakim face any consequences for his evil?
Yes. Jeremiah prophesied against him, and later he was subdued by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for three years, then rebelled. The eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the exile are the ultimate judgment for the accumulated evil of Judah's kings, including Jehoiakim.
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