Original Word: יְהוֹאָשׁ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yhow'ash
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-AHSH
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-awsh')
KJV: Jehoash
NASB: Joash, Jehoash
Word Origin: [from H3068 (יְהוֹוָה - LORD) and (perhaps) H784 (אֵשׁ - fire)]

1. Jehovah-fired
2. Jehoash, the name of two Israelite kings

Jehoash

From Yhovah and (perhaps) 'esh; Jehovah-fired; Jehoash, the name of two Israelite kings -- Jehoash. Compare Yow'ash.

see HEBREW Yhovah

see HEBREW 'esh

see HEBREW Yow'ash

Word Origin
from Yhvh and perhaps esh
Definition
"Yah is strong," the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Jehoash (17), Joash (47).

יְהוֺאָשׁ, יוֺאָשׁ proper name, masculine ᵐ5 Ἰωας (׳י is strong, compare אישׁ; or hath bestowed, compare Arabic bestow; Phoenician יאש proper name, feminine; Sabean אלאוס Hal¹⁵⁰, אוסאל Hal¹⁴⁴, יאוסאל Hal¹⁹², compare DHM^{ZMG 1883, 15}); —

1 ׳יְהו king of Judah, son of Ahaziah (Jehoahaz 3) 2 Kings 12:1; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 12:5; 2 Kings 12:7; 2 Kings 12:8; 2 Kings 12:19; 2 Kings 14:13, = יוֺאָשׁ 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 12:21; 2 Kings 13:1,10; 2 Kings 14:1,3,17,23; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2Chronicles 22:11; 24:2,4,22,24; 25:23,25; = יאָֹשׁ2Chronicles 24:1.

2 ׳יְהוֺ king of Israel, son of Jehoahaz

2, 2 Kings 13:10,25; 2 Kings 14:8,9,11,13,15,16,17 = יוֺאָשׁ 2 Kings 13:9,12,13 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 13:14,25; 2 Kings 14:1,23,27; 2Chron 25:17; 25:18; 25:21; 25:23; 25:25; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1.

3 ׳יו father of Gideon (Jerubbaal) Judges 6:11,29,30,31; Judges 7:14; Judges 8:13,29,32 (twice in verse).

4 ׳יו a prince of Ahab's house, called בֶּןהַֿמֶּלֶךְ 1 Kings 22:26 2Chronicles 18:25.

5 ׳יו one of David's heroes 1 Chronicles 12:3 (ᵐ5 Ἰωα, Ἰωας, A Ἰωρας).

6 יוֺאָשׁ a Judaite prince 1 Chronicles 4:22 (ᵐ5 Ἰωαδα, Ἰωας).

Overview

Jehoash (Joash), rendered from the same Hebrew form in seventeen Old-Testament verses, designates two ninth-century monarchs—one ruling Judah, the other Israel. Their intertwined narratives in 2 Kings reveal striking lessons about covenant faithfulness, prophetic guidance, and the preservation of the Davidic line.

Jehoash of Judah (2 Kings 11–12)

Early preservation and coronation
• Hidden for six years in the temple precincts from murderous Athaliah, the infant prince was safeguarded by Jehosheba and Jehoiada.
• “Joash was seven years old when he became king” (2 Kings 11:21). His very survival underscores God’s unwavering commitment to the Davidic promise.

Reform under Jehoiada
• “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest” (2 Kings 12:2). Priest and king worked in tandem to renew covenant worship.
• The temple chest for freewill offerings (2 Kings 12:9–15) modeled transparent stewardship and voluntary generosity, principles echoed in later biblical teaching on giving.

Failure after Jehoiada’s death
• Chronicles records a tragic turn: idolatry, the murder of Zechariah son of Jehoiada, and finally Joash’s own assassination (2 Chronicles 24:17–25).
• 2 Kings highlights covenant breach in fiscal compromise: “Then King Joash of Judah took all the sacred gifts… and sent them to Hazael king of Aram” (2 Kings 12:18). Relinquishing what belonged to the Lord foreshadows his broader apostasy.

Theological reflections

Jehoash’s life warns that early piety, if detached from personal conviction, withers when spiritual mentors depart. Conversely, his temple restoration prefigures the Messiah’s zeal for His Father’s house (John 2:17).

Jehoash of Israel (2 Kings 13–14)

Context and character
• Ascended “in the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah” (2 Kings 13:10).
• Persisted in the cult of Jeroboam I, yet showed flashes of humility before God’s prophet.

Prophetic encounter with Elisha
• At Elisha’s deathbed the king wept, addressing him, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” (2 Kings 13:14).
• The arrow ritual (13:15–19) promised three victories over Aram; timid obedience limited the blessing, illustrating that faith’s measure often sets the boundary of received mercy.
• Fulfillment noted in 13:25: “Three times Joash defeated him, and he recovered the Israelite cities.”

Conflict with Amaziah of Judah
• Amaziah’s challenge—“Come, let us meet face to face” (2 Kings 14:8)—was answered by Jehoash’s parable of the thistle and the cedar, a caution against pride (14:9).
• The northern king routed Judah at Beth-shemesh, breached Jerusalem’s wall, plundered temple and palace treasures, and took hostages (14:11–14). God used a flawed ruler to humble Judah’s arrogance, demonstrating His sovereign use of even disobedient instruments.

Succession and legacy

Jehoash died, was buried in Samaria, and Jeroboam II inherited the throne (2 Kings 14:15–16). His reign set the stage for Israel’s temporary expansion prior to Assyria’s rise.

Key Themes and Lessons

Prophetic authority

Both kings’ destinies pivot on their response to God’s spokesmen—Jehoiada, Zechariah, and Elisha. Scripture elevates prophetic word above royal prerogative, anticipating the supremacy of Christ, the final Prophet-King.

Covenant fidelity and national welfare

Temple repair (Judah) and military deliverance (Israel) show that material restoration flows from spiritual attentiveness. Conversely, compromise leads to loss—whether paying off Hazael or surrendering Jerusalem’s defenses.

The power and peril of influence

Jehoash of Judah thrived under godly mentorship yet collapsed when it ceased, teaching the importance of personal, enduring devotion rather than dependence on external scaffolding.

Divine patience and judgment

Despite persistent northern idolatry, God granted reprieve through Jehoash, “for the LORD saw the bitter misery of Israel” (2 Kings 14:26). Mercy delayed does not annul eventual reckoning, as exile later confirms.

Typological resonance

The concealed child-king preserved in the temple previews the ultimate preservation of the Messianic line, culminating in Jesus Christ, the greater Son of David whose kingdom endures forever (Luke 1:32–33).

Summary of Occurrences

2 Kings 11:21; 12:1–7, 18; 13:10, 25; 14:8–17 collectively trace Jehoash’s dual identity in Judah and Israel, combining to illustrate God’s sovereign faithfulness amid human frailty.

יְהוֹאָ֑שׁ יְהוֹאָ֔שׁ יְהוֹאָ֜שׁ יְהוֹאָ֣שׁ יְהוֹאָ֤שׁ יְהוֹאָ֥שׁ יְהוֹאָ֧שׁ יְהוֹאָ֨שׁ יְהוֹאָשׁ֙ יהואש yə·hō·w·’āš yehoAsh yəhōw’āšInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts