and יְכׇנְיָהוּ; or (Jeremiah 27:20) יְכוֹנְיָה; from כּוּן and יָהּ; Jah will establish; Jekonjah, a Jewish king; Jeconiah. Compare כׇּנְיָהוּ.
Transliteration:Yᵉkonyâh
Pronunciation:yek-on-yaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H3204}}` (Yekonyâh), also appearing as יְכׇנְיָהוּ (Yekonyâhu) and יְכוֹנְיָה (Yekônyâh), is a proper noun derived from two core elements. The first is the verbal root `{{H3559}}` (kûn), which carries the primary meaning "to be firm," "to be established," "to be set up," or "to prepare." The second element is `{{H3050}}` (Yah), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. Therefore, the name Yekonyâh fundamentally means "Yahweh will establish" or "Yahweh establishes." Its semantic range is primarily limited to its function as a proper name, but its etymological depth imbues it with significant theological implications concerning divine steadfastness and the Lord's active role in establishing individuals, their lineage, or their positions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name `{{H3204}}` (Yekonyâh) consistently refers to a single historical figure: Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, who served as king of Judah. He is also known by the variant names Coniah (e.g., [[Jeremiah 22:24]], [[Jeremiah 22:28]], where the related word `{{H3659}}` is used) and Jehoiachin (e.g., [[2 Kings 24:6]], [[2 Kings 24:8]]). His reign was remarkably brief, lasting only three months and ten days ([[2 Kings 24:8]]), before he was taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, along with his mother, servants, princes, and officers ([[2 Kings 24:12]], [[Jeremiah 24:1]]).
The occurrences of `{{H3204}}` are primarily found in the prophetic book of Jeremiah and the historical books of 1 Chronicles and Esther:
* In Jeremiah, the name appears in contexts describing the aftermath of his exile and the prophecies concerning the future of Judah (e.g., [[Jeremiah 27:20]], [[Jeremiah 28:4]], [[Jeremiah 29:2]]). These passages highlight the reality of the Babylonian captivity and the apparent disruption of the Davidic line.
* 1 Chronicles traces his lineage as a descendant of David and an ancestor of Zerubbabel (e.g., [[1 Chronicles 3:16]], [[1 Chronicles 3:17]]). This genealogical record is crucial for understanding the continuity of the Davidic covenant.
* Esther mentions Mordecai's lineage, noting his deportation with Jeconiah (e.g., [[Esther 2:6]]), further cementing the historical context of the exile.
* Crucially, in the New Testament, the name "Jeconiah" appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew's Gospel ([[Matthew 1:11]], [[Matthew 1:12]]), bridging the gap between King Josiah and the Babylonian exile, and then to Shealtiel, an ancestor of Jesus. This inclusion is vital for demonstrating the Messianic lineage despite the apparent break caused by the exile.
The context of Jeconiah's life – a brief reign followed by long exile – creates a profound tension with the meaning of his name, "Yahweh will establish." This tension underscores the complexities of divine providence and human history.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root `{{H3559}}` (kûn), which forms the basis of `{{H3204}}`. This root is pervasive in the Old Testament, signifying:
* **Divine Establishment:** God "establishes" His covenant ([[Psalm 89:2]]), His throne ([[Psalm 93:2]]), His people ([[Psalm 48:8]]), and even the foundations of the earth ([[Psalm 24:2]]).
* **Human Preparation/Firmness:** Humans "prepare" their hearts ([[Psalm 78:8]]) or "make firm" their steps ([[Psalm 40:2]]).
* **Divine Purpose:** The idea of God's "establishing" implies His sovereign purpose and unshakeable will.
The theophoric element `{{H3050}}` (Yah) connects the name directly to the person and character of Yahweh, emphasizing that the act of establishment is divine.
Other related names include:
* `{{H3659}}` (Koniyahu): A direct variant of Jeconiah, also meaning "Yahweh establishes," used interchangeably in Jeremiah (e.g., [[Jeremiah 22:24]]).
* Jehoiachin (יְהוֹיָכִין - Yᵉhôyâkîn): Another name for the same king, where the divine element "Jeho-" (Yahweh) precedes the root `{{H3559}}` (yâkîn), still conveying the meaning "Yahweh establishes." This multiplicity of names for the same individual, all carrying the same core meaning, reinforces the theological significance embedded within his identity.
The concept of "establishment" is also closely tied to the Davidic Covenant in [[2 Samuel 7:16]], where God promises to "establish" David's house and kingdom forever. This covenant forms the backdrop against which Jeconiah's life and name are understood.
### Theological Significance
The name `{{H3204}}` (Yekonyâh), "Yahweh will establish," carries profound theological significance, especially in light of King Jeconiah's historical fate.
1. **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Failure:** Jeconiah's exile represented a catastrophic moment for Judah and the Davidic dynasty. Yet, his name proclaimed God's unwavering power to establish. This tension highlights that God's plans and promises are not contingent on human success or the stability of earthly kingdoms. Even in judgment and apparent defeat, God remains sovereign and faithful to His ultimate purposes.
2. **Faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant:** The promise to David was that his throne would be established forever ([[2 Samuel 7:16]]). Jeconiah's deportation seemed to contradict this. However, his inclusion in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus ([[Matthew 1:11]], [[Matthew 1:12]]) provides a critical theological link. It demonstrates that even through the line of a captive king, God preserved the lineage through which the Messiah, the true and eternal King, would come. The name "Yahweh will establish" becomes a prophetic whisper of God's enduring commitment to His covenant, even when the path seemed broken.
3. **Hope in Exile:** For the exiles, the name of their king, even in his captivity, would have served as a constant, albeit challenging, reminder of God's power to establish. It offered a flicker of hope that despite their displacement, God's ultimate plan for restoration and the re-establishment of His people remained firm.
4. **God as the Active Agent:** The name emphasizes God as the *subject* of the verb "to establish." It is not a passive state but an active, divine work. This underscores God's ongoing involvement in history, His providential care, and His ultimate control over the destiny of His people and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H3204}}` (Yekonyâh) is a proper noun referring to King Jeconiah of Judah, whose name profoundly means "Yahweh will establish." This etymological meaning stands in stark contrast to his historical reality as a king whose brief reign ended in exile to Babylon ([[Jeremiah 27:20]]). Yet, it is precisely this tension that imbues the name with deep theological significance. Despite the apparent disruption of the Davidic line through Jeconiah's captivity, his inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus ([[Matthew 1:11]], [[Matthew 1:12]]) powerfully affirms God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. The name "Yahweh will establish" thus serves as a testament to divine sovereignty, demonstrating that even amidst human failure and historical upheaval, God's purposes remain firm, ultimately culminating in the eternal establishment of the Messianic kingdom through the lineage He preserved.
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