from יְהֹוָה and כּוּן; Jehovah will establish; Jehojakin, a Jewish king; Jehoiachin. Compare יוֹיָכִין.
Transliteration:Yᵉhôwyâkîyn
Pronunciation:yeh-ho-yaw-keen'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew proper noun `{{H3078}}` (Yᵉhôwyâkîyn) is a theophoric name, meaning "Jehovah will establish" or "Yahweh establishes." It is derived from two components: `{{H3068}}` (Yᵉhôwâ), the personal name of God, and the verb `{{H3559}}` (kûn), meaning "to be firm, to establish, to set up, to prepare." The name itself is a declaration of divine action and sovereignty, proclaiming that it is God who brings stability and permanence. As a proper noun, its primary semantic range is limited to the individual it identifies, but the inherent meaning of the name carries profound theological implications regarding divine faithfulness and the nature of God's establishing power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H3078}}` refers exclusively to Jehoiachin, the son of Jehoiakim and the penultimate king of Judah. His brief reign, lasting only three months and ten days, is primarily documented in the books of Kings and Chronicles.
* **Accession and Reign:** [[2 Kings 24:8-9]] and [[2 Chronicles 36:9]] record his ascension to the throne at the age of eighteen (or eight, according to 2 Chronicles, though eighteen is generally preferred) and his immediate continuation of his father's wicked ways, doing "what was evil in the sight of the Lord."
* **First Deportation:** His reign culminated in the first major Babylonian deportation. [[2 Kings 24:10-16]] details Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem, Jehoiachin's surrender, and his subsequent exile to Babylon along with his mother, officials, mighty men, and all the craftsmen and smiths. This event, occurring in 597 BC, marked a significant turning point in Judah's history, fulfilling prophetic warnings of judgment.
* **Prophetic Condemnation:** The prophet Jeremiah frequently refers to Jehoiachin, often using the shortened forms of his name, Jeconiah (`{{H3204}}`) or Coniah (`{{H3558}}`). [[Jeremiah 22:24-30]] contains a severe oracle against "Coniah," declaring that he would be cast out of the land and that none of his offspring would sit on the throne of David or rule in Judah. This prophecy appears to contradict the inclusion of Jehoiachin in the Davidic line leading to Jesus, a point of theological interest discussed below.
* **Life in Exile:** Despite the harsh prophecy of Jeremiah 22, [[2 Kings 25:27-30]] and [[Jeremiah 52:31-34]] record a surprising turn of events. Thirty-seven years into his exile, Jehoiachin was released from prison by Evil-Merodach, the king of Babylon, and was given a place of honor and a regular allowance for the rest of his life. This act of grace provided a glimmer of hope for the exiled Judeans, suggesting that God had not completely abandoned His people.
* **Dating of Prophecies:** The prophet Ezekiel consistently dates his prophecies by the "year of the exile of King Jehoiachin" (e.g., [[Ezekiel 1:2]], [[Ezekiel 8:1]], [[Ezekiel 20:1]], [[Ezekiel 24:1]], [[Ezekiel 26:1]], [[Ezekiel 29:1]], [[Ezekiel 30:20]], [[Ezekiel 31:1]], [[Ezekiel 32:1]], [[Ezekiel 33:21]], [[Ezekiel 40:1]]). This demonstrates Jehoiachin's significance as a historical marker for the exilic community and underscores the centrality of his deportation in their collective memory.
* **New Testament Genealogy:** [[Matthew 1:11-12]] includes "Jechoniah" (Jehoiachin) in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, affirming his place in the royal lineage of David, despite the curse on his immediate descendants ruling on the throne.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for `{{H3078}}` is its root verb `{{H3559}}` (kûn), meaning "to establish, prepare, make firm." This root is used extensively in the Old Testament to describe God's acts of creation, His establishment of covenants, and His securing of kingdoms. The divine name `{{H3068}}` (YHWH) is also foundational to the name's meaning.
Other forms and spellings of Jehoiachin's name include:
* `{{H3204}}` (Yᵉkonyah / Jeconiah): Used in [[Jeremiah 24:1]], [[Jeremiah 27:20]], [[Jeremiah 28:4]], [[Jeremiah 29:2]], and [[1 Chronicles 3:16-17]]. This is the form found in the Greek Septuagint and subsequently in the New Testament (e.g., [[Matthew 1:11-12]]).
* `{{H3558}}` (Konyahu / Coniah): A truncated form, primarily used by Jeremiah in contexts of judgment (e.g., [[Jeremiah 22:24]], [[Jeremiah 22:28]], [[Jeremiah 37:1]]).
* `{{H3119}}` (Yôyâkîn / Joiaichin): A slightly different transliteration, also referring to the same individual. The entry itself notes "Compare יוֹיָכִין."
The historical context of Jehoiachin's life is deeply intertwined with the **Davidic Covenant** ([[2 Samuel 7:12-16]]), which promised an enduring dynasty for David. His story also powerfully illustrates the concept of **exile** as divine judgment and the **faithfulness of God** despite human sin.
### Theological Significance
The name "Jehovah will establish" stands in stark and poignant contrast to Jehoiachin's historical fate. His reign was anything but established; it was short-lived, marked by wickedness, and ended in humiliating deportation. This apparent paradox, however, reveals deeper theological truths:
1. **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure:** While Jehoiachin's personal reign was not established, God's overarching plan for the Davidic dynasty *was* established through him. The curse in [[Jeremiah 22:30]] ("write this man down as childless, a man who will not prosper in his days; for none of his offspring will prosper, sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah") was fulfilled in that his immediate descendants did not reign in Jerusalem. Yet, the lineage continued through his son Shealtiel, as recorded in [[1 Chronicles 3:17]] and [[Matthew 1:12]], demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant with David ([[2 Samuel 7:12-16]]). God establishes His purposes, even when human actors fail or when the path involves judgment and exile.
2. **Judgment and Hope:** Jehoiachin's exile represented the culmination of divine judgment upon Judah for its persistent sin. Yet, his eventual release and favored status in Babylon ([[2 Kings 25:27-30]]) offered a tangible sign of God's enduring grace and a glimmer of hope for the restoration of His people. It signaled that the exile was not the final word, and God had not utterly forsaken His covenant.
3. **Messianic Lineage:** His inclusion in Matthew's genealogy is profoundly significant. It underscores the unbroken continuity of the Davidic line, even through periods of national crisis and apparent brokenness. The "establishment" proclaimed in his name ultimately points to the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom through Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, whose reign is eternal and truly established by God.
### Summary
`{{H3078}}` (Yᵉhôwyâkîyn), meaning "Jehovah will establish," is the name of a king of Judah whose brief, wicked reign ended in the first major Babylonian deportation. His life encapsulates a profound biblical tension: the apparent failure of a king whose name declared divine establishment, juxtaposed with God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. While Jehoiachin's personal reign was not established, his story serves as a pivotal historical marker for the exile and a testament to God's sovereign plan. His inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in [[Matthew 1:11-12]] ultimately resolves the paradox, demonstrating that God did indeed "establish" the Davidic line, culminating in the eternal reign of the Messiah, Jesus, thereby fulfilling the deep theological meaning embedded in Jehoiachin's very name.
TRV