Original Word: צִבְיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Tsibyah
Pronunciation: tsib-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (tsib-yaw')
KJV: Zibiah
NASB: Zibiah
Word Origin: [for H6646 (צְּבִיָה - gazelle)]

1. Tsibjah, an Israelitess

Zibiah

For tsbiyah; Tsibjah, an Israelitess -- Zibiah.

see HEBREW tsbiyah

Word Origin
from the same as tsebi
Definition
"gazelle," mother of Jehoash
NASB Translation
Zibiah (2).

צִבְיָה proper name, feminine (= צְבִיָּה gazelle, compare Sta^{§ 195 b}); — mother of Jehoash of Judah 2 Kings 12:2, Aβια = 2 Chronicles 24:1, Aβια, ᵐ5^L Σαβια.

Name

Zibiah (Strong’s Hebrew 6645) is identified as “Zibiah of Beersheba,” the mother of King Joash of Judah. Her name is related to imagery of a graceful gazelle, suggesting beauty and vitality—qualities often associated in Scripture with blessing and fruitfulness.

Scriptural References

• 2 Kings 12:1
• 2 Chronicles 24:1

Both references read almost identically: “His mother’s name was Zibiah, and she was from Beersheba”.

Historical and Political Context

Zibiah lived during one of the darkest chapters in Judah’s monarchy. After the death of her husband King Ahaziah, Athaliah seized the throne and attempted to exterminate the royal seed (2 Kings 11:1). In this climate of apostasy and bloodshed, the infant Joash was hidden in the temple for six years. Though Scripture is silent on Zibiah’s fate during the purge, her appearance in the Joash narrative anchors the Davidic line in Beersheba—Judah’s southern frontier and a place long associated with covenantal promises (Genesis 21:33).

Genealogical Significance

1. Direct link in the Davidic line:
• David → Jehoram → Ahaziah → Joash.

Zibiah’s inclusion secures the maternal link in the lineage leading ultimately to the Messiah (Matthew 1:8-9).

2. Connection to Beersheba:
• Her southern heritage broadens the geographical scope of the royal house, symbolizing the promise that the scepter would not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10).

Influence on Joash

While Jehoiada and Jehosheba played the public roles in preserving Joash, Zibiah’s influence is implicit:

• Early nurture: The seven-year-old king likely received foundational instruction from his mother before and during his concealment.
• Moral formation: Joash “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2). Such receptivity to godly guidance is ordinarily planted in childhood, hinting at a mother’s formative work (Proverbs 22:6).

Spiritual Implications

1. God’s covenant fidelity: By naming Zibiah and her hometown, Scripture underlines the precision of divine preservation. The line could not be severed, even when only one child—and his mother—stood between promise and extinction.

2. The oft-hidden ministry of mothers: Zibiah’s brief appearance demonstrates that kingdom significance is not measured by public visibility. Without her, Joash’s very existence—and thus the Davidic promise—would have been impossible.

3. Geography and redemption: Beersheba, the southern anchor of “from Dan to Beersheba,” reminds readers that God’s redemptive work encompasses the entirety of the covenant land, from border to border.

Applications for Ministry

• Encourage and equip mothers: Zibiah exemplifies the long-term impact of maternal faithfulness, even when history affords little recognition.
• Trust in God’s unseen providence: The preservation of Joash through Zibiah’s motherhood confirms that God remains active behind the scenes, orchestrating outcomes for His covenant purposes.
• Honor every member of the body: The economy of the kingdom values hidden contributions as essential to the unfolding plan of redemption (1 Corinthians 12:22-24).

Related Entries

Jehoash / Joash; Jehoiada; Athaliah; Beersheba

צִבְיָ֖ה צביה ṣiḇ·yāh ṣiḇyāh tzivYahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts