TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Complete Jewish Bible
The king of Bavel made Matanyah, Y'hoyakhin's father's brother, king in place of Y'hoyakhin and changed his name to Tzidkiyahu.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
American Standard Version
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
World English Bible Messianic
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s father’s brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the King of Babel made Mattaniah his vncle King in his steade, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king of Babylon causeth Mattaniah his father's brother to reign in his stead, and turneth his name to Zedekiah.
See also
In the KJVVerse 10,220 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Kings 24 verses 8–20
8 ¶ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
18 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
20 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
This should have been the history of king Jehoiachin's reign, but, alas! it is only the history of king Jehoiachin's captivity, as it is called, Eze 1:2. He came to the crown, not to have the honour of wearing it, but the shame of losing it. Ideo tantum venerat, ut exiret - He came in only to go out.
I. His reign was short and inconsiderable. He reigned but three months, and then was removed and carried captive to Babylon, as his father, it is likely, would have been if he had lived but so much longer. What an unhappy young prince was this, that was thrust into a falling house, a sinking throne! What an unnatural father had he, who begat him to suffer for him, and by his own sin and folly had left himself nothing to bequeath to his son but his own miseries! Yet this young prince reigned long enough to show that he justly smarted for his fathers' sins, for he trod in their steps (Kg2 24:9): He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as they had done; he did nothing to cut off the entail of the curse, to discharge the incumbrances of his crown, and therefore (transit cum onere - the incumbrance descends with the crown) with his own iniquity that of his fathers shall come into the account.
II. The calamities that came upon him, and his family, and people, in the very beginning of his reign, were very grievous. 1. Jerusalem was besieged by the king of Babylon, Kg2 24:10, Kg2 24:11. He had sent his forces to ravage the country, Kg2 24:2. Now he came himself, and laid siege to the city. Now the word of God was fulfilled (Deu 28:49, etc.), The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, of fierce countenance, that shall first eat of the fruit of thy land and then besiege thee in all thy gates. 2. Jehoiachin immediately surrendered at discretion. As soon as he heard the king of Babylon had come in person against the city, his name having at this time become very formidable, he beat a parley and went out to him, Kg2 24:12. Had he made his peace with God, and taken the method that Hezekiah did in the like case, he needed not to have feared the king of Babylon, but might have held out with courage, honour, and success (one should have chased a thousand); but, wanting the faith and piety of an Israelite, he had not the resolution of a man, of a soldier, of a prince. He and his royal family, his mother and wives, his servants and princes, delivered themselves up prisoners of war; this was the consequence of their being servants of sin. 3. Nebuchadnezzar rifled the treasuries both of the church and of the state, and carried away the silver and gold of both, Kg2 24:13. Now the word of God by Isaiah was fulfilled (Kg2 20:17), All that is in thy house shall be carried to Babylon. Even the vessels of the temple which Solomon had made, and laid up in store to be used as the old ones were worn out, he cut off from the temple, and began to cut them in pieces, but, upon second thoughts, reserved them for his own use, for we find Belshazzar drinking wine in them, Dan 5:2, Dan 5:3. 4. He carried away a great part of Jerusalem into captivity, to weaken it, that he might effectually secure to himself the dominion of it and prevent its revolt, and to enrich himself with the wealth or service of those he took away. There had been some carried away eight years before this, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar and the third of Jehoiakim, among whom were Daniel and his fellows. See Dan 1:1, Dan 1:6. They had approved themselves so well that this politic prince coveted more of them. Now he carried off, (1.) The young king himself and his family (Kg2 24:15), and we find (Kg2 25:27-29) that for thirty-seven years he continued a close prisoner. (2.) All the great men, the princes and officers, whose riches were kept for the owners thereof to their hurt (Ecc 5:13), tempting the enemies to make a prey of them first. (3.) All the military men, the mighty men of valour (Kg2 24:14), the mighty of the land (Kg2 24:15), the men of might, even all that were strong and apt for war, Kg2 24:16. These could not defend themselves, and the conqueror would not leave them to defend their country, but took them away, to be employed in his service. (4.) All the craftsmen and smiths who made weapons of war; in taking them he did, in effect, disarm the city, according to the Philistines' policy, Sa1 13:19. In this captivity Ezekiel the prophet was carried away (Eze 1:1, Eze 1:2) and Mordecai, Est 2:6. This Jehoiachin was also called Jeconiah (Ch1 3:16), and in contempt (Jer 22:24, where his captivity is foretold) Coniah.
III. The successor whom the king of Babylon appointed in the room of Jehoiachin. God had written him childless (Jer 22:30) and therefore his uncle was entrusted with the government. The king of Babylon made Mattaniah king, the son of Josiah; and to remind him, and let all the world know, that he was his creature, he changed his name and called him Zedekiah, Kg2 24:17. God had sometimes charged it upon his people, They have set up kings, but not by me (Hos 8:4), and now, to punish them for that, the king of Babylon shall have the setting up of their kings. Those are justly deprived of their liberty that use it, and insist upon it, against God's authority. This Zedekiah was the last of the kings of Judah. The name which the king of Babylon gave him signifies The justice of the Lord, and was a presage of the glorifying of God's justice in his ruin. 1. See how impious this Zedekiah was. Though the judgments of God upon his three immediate predecessors might have been a warning to him not to tread in their steps, yet he did that which was evil, like all the rest, Kg2 24:19. 2. See how impolitic he was. As his predecessor lost his courage, so he his wisdom, with his religion, for he rebelled against the king of Babylon (Kg2 24:20), whose tributary he was, and so provoked him whom he was utterly unable to contend with, and who, if he had continued true to him, would have protected him. This was the most foolish thing he could do, and hastened the ruin of his kingdom. This came to pass through the anger of the Lord, that he might cast them out from his presence. Note, When those that are entrusted with the counsels of a nation act unwisely, and against their true interest, we ought to take notice of the displeasure of God in it. It is for the sins of a people that God removes the speech of the trusty and takes away the understanding of the aged, and hides from their eyes the things that belong to the public peace. Whom God will destroy he infatuates.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–20. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
The verse from 2 Kings 24:17 details the pivotal moment when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, asserted his absolute dominion over Judah by installing Mattaniah, King Jehoiachin's uncle, as a vassal king in Jerusalem. This act of replacing the legitimate Davidic monarch was further underscored by the forced changing of Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah, a powerful symbolic gesture that demonstrated Babylon's complete control, marked a significant step towards Judah's final subjugation, and set the stage for the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the seventy-year Babylonian exile.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices that deepen its theological and historical impact. Irony is paramount, particularly in the renaming of Mattaniah to Zedekiah. The new name, "Yahweh is my Righteousness," stands in stark contrast to Zedekiah's actual reign, which was characterized by unrighteousness, rebellion against God's prophets, and ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem. This creates a profound and tragic irony, highlighting the disconnect between the king's name and his character and actions, underscoring the failure of human kingship apart from true obedience to God. Additionally, the verse functions as foreshadowing. The act of a foreign king installing a puppet ruler and changing his name clearly foreshadows the complete loss of Judah's sovereignty and its impending destruction. It signals that the nation's fate is sealed, and its final demise is only a matter of time, directly linking to the catastrophic events of 2 Kings 25. Finally, the symbolism of the name change itself is profoundly significant, representing the complete subjugation and loss of identity for both the king and, by extension, the nation he represents, now fully under the heel of a foreign power.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty over all nations, even pagan empires, and His use of them as instruments of His divine judgment. The installation of Zedekiah by Nebuchadnezzar, though a human political act, was ultimately within God's permissive will, a direct consequence of Judah's persistent disobedience and idolatry as prophesied by Jeremiah. It underscores the theological truth that while human kings may rise and fall, and earthly kingdoms may dominate, God remains the ultimate ruler, orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes, including bringing about judgment for sin and preparing His people for repentance and restoration. The tragic failure of Zedekiah, despite his divinely-infused name, highlights the inherent limitations and ultimate unrighteousness of human kingship apart from true submission to Yahweh, pointing to the need for a truly righteous and faithful king.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of 2 Kings 24:17 serves as a potent reminder that our ultimate allegiance must be to God, not to earthly powers or fleeting circumstances. Just as Zedekiah's name, "Yahweh is my Righteousness," stood in stark contrast to his unrighteous actions, so too are we challenged to examine whether our lives genuinely reflect the "new name" we bear as followers of Christ. Are we truly living out the righteousness of God that we claim to believe in, or is there a disconnect between our proclaimed faith and our daily choices? This passage also speaks to the profound consequences of persistent disobedience, both individually and corporately. While we may not face national exile, our unfaithfulness can lead to spiritual barrenness, a loss of God's manifest blessing, and a diminished witness. Yet, even in judgment, God remains sovereign, working His purposes through seemingly chaotic events. This should cultivate within us a deep trust in His overarching plan, even when circumstances seem dire, and a renewed commitment to living lives of integrity and faithfulness, knowing that our true identity and security are found only in Him, not in the shifting sands of human power or political expediency.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Nebuchadnezzar change Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah?
Answer: Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah as a powerful symbolic act to assert his absolute authority and dominion over Judah and its new king. In the ancient Near East, renaming a conquered king or vassal was a common practice signifying that the new ruler owed his position, identity, and allegiance entirely to the conquering suzerain. It stripped away the old identity and allegiance, publicly declaring the vassal's complete submission and dependence on Babylon. This act underscored Judah's loss of sovereignty and its reduction to a mere puppet state under Babylonian control, as seen in other instances like Daniel's name being changed to Belteshazzar in Daniel 1:7.
Was Zedekiah a good king who honored his new name, "Yahweh is my Righteousness"?
Answer: No, tragically, Zedekiah was not a good king and did not honor the profound theological statement embedded in his new name. Despite "Yahweh is my Righteousness" being his new name, Zedekiah's reign was marked by unrighteousness, rebellion, and a profound lack of trust in God. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, breaking his oath of allegiance, and more significantly, he consistently ignored the warnings and prophecies of Jeremiah, who urged him to submit to Babylon as God's will (Jeremiah 37:1-2). His unfaithfulness led to Jerusalem's final, devastating siege and destruction, his sons being executed before his eyes, and his own blinding and captivity in Babylon, as detailed in 2 Kings 25:1-7.
What was the ultimate significance of the names Mattaniah and Zedekiah in this context?
Answer: The names Mattaniah ("Gift of Yahweh") and Zedekiah ("Yahweh is my Righteousness") carry profound and ironic significance within this historical context. Mattaniah's original name highlights the theological truth that all blessings, including leadership, come from God, yet he was installed by a pagan king, not as a divine gift for Judah's good, but as an instrument of foreign control and judgment. The new name, Zedekiah, is even more ironic. While it proclaims God's righteousness, the king who bore it proved utterly unrighteous in his actions, leading his people to ruin. This stark contrast between the name and the man's character serves as a powerful commentary on the failure of human kingship and the desperate need for a truly righteous ruler, one whose very being embodies the righteousness of Yahweh. The names, therefore, amplify the tragedy of Judah's spiritual decline and the consequences of rejecting God's covenant.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Zedekiah's installation and his tragically ironic name, "Yahweh is my Righteousness," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Zedekiah, a king whose name proclaimed righteousness but whose actions demonstrated unrighteousness, perfectly illustrates the inherent failure of human kingship to truly deliver God's people from sin and its consequences. His inability to save Judah, despite bearing a name that invoked the Lord's righteousness, points forward to the ultimate need for a King who truly embodies and bestows divine righteousness. Jesus Christ is that King. He is the true "Gift of Yahweh" (echoing Mattaniah's original name), uniquely sent by the Father to redeem humanity through His sacrificial love, as proclaimed in John 3:16. Furthermore, Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of "Yahweh is my Righteousness" (Zedekiah's imposed name). Unlike Zedekiah, whose name was a hollow promise, Jesus is our righteousness, as 1 Corinthians 1:30 declares, for "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). He perfectly fulfilled all righteousness through His sinless life, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, offering His perfect righteousness to all who believe (Romans 3:21-26). The earthly king's subjugation and ultimate failure underscore the eternal, unshakable nature of Christ's kingdom, which is not of this world (John 18:36) and will never be overthrown, for He reigns forever as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).