In brief
Jehoiachin, also called Jeconiah or Coniah, is a king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim. He reigns only three months in Jerusalem and does evil in the sight of the Lord. When Nebuchadnezzar besieges the city, he surrenders and is deported to Babylon with his mother, the officials and the craftsmen. After thirty-seven years of captivity, King Evil-Merodach brings him out of prison and has him eat at his table. He appears in the genealogy of Jesus.
What does the name Jehoiachin mean?
The name Jehoiachin is generally understood as the Lord establishes or the Lord strengthens. The Bible also calls him Coniah or Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:24; Matthew 1:11-12), variant forms of the same name, without giving any explanation.
The story of Jehoiachin
A three-month reign
2 Kings 24:6-9; 2 Chronicles 36:9At the death of Jehoiakim, his son Jehoiachin becomes king. He is eighteen according to 2 Kings 24:8, but eight according to 2 Chronicles 36:9 in some translations, and he reigns three months in Jerusalem. His mother is named Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan. Like his father, he does evil in the sight of the Lord.
Surrender and exile
2 Kings 24:10-16The servants of Nebuchadnezzar besiege Jerusalem, then the king of Babylon arrives himself. Jehoiachin surrenders with his mother, his servants, his officials and his eunuchs. He is taken prisoner and carried to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar removes the treasures of the temple and the palace and deports the officials, the warriors, the craftsmen and the smiths.
A signet ring torn off
Jeremiah 22:24-30The prophet Jeremiah announces God's judgment on Coniah: even if he were a signet ring on the Lord's right hand, he would be torn off. He will be thrown with his mother into a foreign land and die there. Jeremiah adds that none of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David to rule over Judah.
The captives taken with him
Jeremiah 24:1-6; Ezekiel 1:2The exiles carried away with Jehoiachin become a landmark for the prophets. After the deportation of Jeconiah, Jeremiah receives the vision of two baskets of figs, and the Lord promises to look favorably on the captives and bring them back. Ezekiel dates his first vision to the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin.
Lifted out of prison
2 Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34In the thirty-seventh year of his captivity, Evil-Merodach, the new king of Babylon, lifts up Jehoiachin's head and brings him out of prison. He speaks kindly to him, sets his seat above those of the other kings with him in Babylon, has him change his prison clothes, and lets him eat at his table for the rest of his life.
In the line of the Messiah
Matthew 1:11-12Jehoiachin's line does not die out. Matthew names him Jeconiah in the genealogy of Jesus, at the time of the deportation to Babylon, and reports that he became the father of Shealtiel, father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel would be one of the leaders of the return from exile, those who rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:2).
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What Jehoiachin teaches us
- God's judgments are real, but they are not his last word on what he has promised.
- God can lift someone up after decades of humiliation and waiting.
- God's faithfulness to his promise to David goes beyond the unfaithfulness of kings.
- Even in exile, the hope of God's people remains grounded in his promises.
Key verses
The book of Kings ends on this note of hope: a descendant of David, brought out of prison, eats at the king's table. After so much ruin, God shows that his promise has not gone out.
Even if he were a signet ring on the Lord's right hand, Coniah would be torn off. This verse reminds us that no privilege of birth protects from judgment the one who turns away from God.
After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel: the genealogy of Jesus passes through the exile. God carries out his plan up to the Messiah, beyond the catastrophes of history.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Jehoiachin
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jehoiachin in the Bible?
Jehoiachin was a king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim, who reigned three months in Jerusalem before being deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:8-15). He remained thirty-seven years in captivity, then was brought out of prison by Evil-Merodach. The Bible also calls him Coniah and Jeconiah.
How old was Jehoiachin when he became king?
2 Kings 24:8 says he was eighteen and reigned three months. In some translations, 2 Chronicles 36:9 gives eight years and specifies three months and ten days. Many commentators see a copying error in the transmission of the text of Chronicles, since some ancient manuscripts read eighteen.
Where is the story of Jehoiachin found in the Bible?
His reign and deportation are told in 2 Kings 24:6-17 and 2 Chronicles 36:8-10. His release is in 2 Kings 25:27-30 and Jeremiah 52:31-34. Jeremiah 22:24-30 records the word of judgment against him, and Matthew 1:11-12 places him in the genealogy of Jesus.