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Jehoiachin

maleExile

Meaning: “The LORD establishes

A young king of Judah who reigned three months before surrendering to Babylon; exiled for decades, he was finally freed and given a seat of honor — and named in Jesus’ genealogy.

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Biography

Jehoiachin (also called Jeconiah, Coniah, and Jechonias) became king of Judah at eighteen and reigned only three months and ten days before Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and he surrendered (2 Kings 24:8–12).

Carried to Babylon

He was carried captive to Babylon along with the treasures of the temple, the craftsmen, and the leading men of Judah — the deportation of 597 BC that preceded the city's final destruction (2 Kings 24:13–16). Jeremiah pronounced a hard word against "Coniah" (Jeremiah 22:24–30).

Released in exile

After thirty-seven years in prison, Jehoiachin was shown kindness by Evil-merodach of Babylon, who "did lift up the head of Jehoiachin... and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him" (2 Kings 25:27–30) — a flicker of hope at the end of Kings. He is named "Jechonias" in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:11–12).

Life Timeline

597 BC

Surrenders to Babylon after a three-month reign

2 Kings 24:12
561 BC

Released from prison and given a seat of honor in Babylon

2 Kings 25:28

On the Bible timeline

Jehoiachin belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).

  1. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
  2. 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
  3. 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem

Family Tree

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Themes & lessons from Jehoiachin

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jehoiachin appears.

Jehoiachin12×Babylon4×Kings4×Evil-Merodach2×Genealogies2×Genealogy2×Human Nature of Christ, the2×Jehoiakim2×Judah, the Tribe Of2×Shealtiel2×Captive1×Chamberlain1×Jerusalem1×Mordecai1×Seals1×Smith1×Yoke, Figurative1×Zedekiah1×

People they appear with

Jehoiakim8×
Nebuchadnezzar5×
Josiah2×
Zedekiah1×
Zerubbabel1×

Scripture Appearances

21 verses in 7 books
2 Kings5 verses

2 Kings 24:6

So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings 24:8

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.

2 Kings 24:12

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. officers: or, eunuchs his reign: Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year

2 Kings 24:15

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. officers: or, eunuchs

2 Kings 25:27

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

1 Chronicles2 verses

1 Chronicles 3:16

And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. Jeconiah: also called, Jehoiachin 2kin.24.6, Zedekiah: or Coniah ier.22.24

1 Chronicles 3:17

And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, Salathiel: Heb. Shealtiel

2 Chronicles2 verses

2 Chronicles 36:8

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. Jehoiachin: or, Jeconiah, I.Chro.3.16. or, Coniah ier.22.24.

2 Chronicles 36:9

Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Esther1 verse

Esther 2:6

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. Jeconiah: or, Jehoiachin

Jeremiah8 verses

Jeremiah 22:24

As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;

Jeremiah 22:28

Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

Jeremiah 24:1

The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

Jeremiah 27:20

Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

Jeremiah 28:4

And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. captives: Heb. captivity

Jeremiah 29:2

(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) eunuchs: or, chamberlains

Jeremiah 37:1

And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

Jeremiah 52:31

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,

Ezekiel1 verse

Ezekiel 1:2

In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

Matthew2 verses

Matthew 1:11

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: Josias: some read, Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias

Matthew 1:12

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

Frequently asked about Jehoiachin

Who was Jehoiachin in the Bible?

A young king of Judah who reigned three months before surrendering to Babylon; exiled for decades, he was finally freed and given a seat of honor — and named in Jesus’ genealogy.

What does the name Jehoiachin mean?

The name Jehoiachin means “The LORD establishes”.

What did Jehoiachin do in the Bible?

Jehoiachin served as king of judah, of the tribe of Judah.

Who were Jehoiachin's parents?

Jehoiachin was the child of Jehoiakim.

Where does Jehoiachin appear in the Bible?

Jehoiachin is mentioned 21 times across 7 books: 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Esther, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Matthew.

What can we learn from Jehoiachin?

The story of Jehoiachin touches on themes of jehoiachin, babylon, kings, evil-merodach — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jehoiachin's life.

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