Lexical Summary Tsidqiyyahu or Tsidqiyyah: Zedekiah Original Word: צִדְקִיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zedekiah, Zidkijah Or Tsidqiyahuw {tsid-kee-yaw'-hoo}; from tsedeq and Yahh; right of Jah; Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites -- Zedekiah, Zidkijah. see HEBREW tsedeq see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsedeq Definition "Yah is righteousness," six Isr. NASB Translation Zedekiah (63), Zedekiah's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ56, יָּ֑ה7 proper name, masculine (׳י is righteousness; compare Sabean צדקאל DHMib., on No. 32); — σεδεκια(ς): 1 last king of Judah, מַתַּנְּיָה, changed to ׳׃צ יָּ֑֫הוּ 2 Kings 24:17,18,20; 2 Kings 25:2,7 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 36:10,11; 1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 1:3; Jeremiah 21:1,3,7 37t. Jeremiah; יָּ֑ה Psalms; Jeremiah 27:12; Jeremiah 28:1; Jeremiah 29:3; Jeremiah 49:34. 2 false prophets: a. under Ahab, יָּ֑֫הוּ 1 Kings 22:24 2Chronicles 18:10,23; יָּ֑ה 1 Kings 22:11. b. יָּ֑֫הוּ Jeremiah's time, Jeremiah 29:21,22. 3 יָּ֑֫הוּ prince, Jeremiah's time, Jeremiah 36:12. 4 יָּ֑ה, priest, Nehemiah's time, Nehemiah 10:2 (ᵐ5L Σεχενιας). 5 יָּ֑ה, son of Jehoiachin, according to 1 Chronicles 3:16, but probably gloss, Be SS, compare Kit. Topical Lexicon Name Meaning and Theological Implications “Tsidqiyyah” means “Yahweh is righteousness.” The very sound of the name asserts that moral rectitude rests in God alone. Repeatedly, Scripture uses bearers of the name to contrast the Lord’s unchanging righteousness with human fickleness—whether in the anarchy of the last days of Judah, the deception of false prophecy, or the renewal of post-exilic worship. Major Individuals Bearing the Name 1. Zedekiah, Last King of Judah (597–586 BC) • Installation and Oath. Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah and set him on Judah’s throne (2 Kings 24:17). By oath he was to remain loyal, yet Ezekiel notes that he “despised the oath by breaking the covenant” (Ezekiel 17:19). 2. Zedekiah son of Chenaanah, Court Prophet of Ahab • Scene. At Samaria he fashioned iron horns, declaring, “With these you will gore the Arameans” (1 Kings 22:11). 3. Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, False Prophet in Babylon • Jeremiah’s Letter. “Thus says the Lord… I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar… and roast them in the fire” (Jeremiah 29:21–22). 4. Priests and Levites Named Zedekiah • A priest, descendant of Immer, served in Jerusalem after the exile (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:11). 5. Zedekiah the Deputy Governor under Nehemiah • Second on the seal list (Nehemiah 10:1), he stood with the governor in renewing covenant obedience, illustrating post-exilic hope. 6. Genealogical Occurrences among Benjamites • Two Benjamite warriors (1 Chronicles 8:15, 8:21) bear the name, linking “righteousness” to tribal identity and military valor. Key Thematic Passages • 2 Kings 24:17 – “The king of Babylon… changed his name to Zedekiah.” Historical Patterns and Doctrinal Reflections • Covenant Violation versus Covenant Renewal. The last king’s breach contrasts with the later Zedekiah who signs the restoration covenant. Messianic Connections The downfall of King Zedekiah leaves Judah longing for a ruler whose reign embodies God’s righteousness. Jeremiah’s promise of the “Branch” directly answers the failure: “He will reign wisely and do justice… This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5–6). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfills this hope, imparting righteousness to all who believe (Romans 3:21–26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Practical Applications • Integrity in Vows. Like Zedekiah’s broken oath, unfaithfulness invites discipline (Ecclesiastes 5:4–6). Summary Throughout Israel’s history the name Zedekiah surfaces in rulers, prophets, soldiers, priests, and civic leaders—about sixty-three occurrences in all. Their accounts collectively affirm that the Lord alone is righteous, that His word stands against every false assurance, and that ultimate righteousness will be manifest in the Messiah whose reign secures the covenant forever. Forms and Transliterations וְצִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ וְצִדְקִיָּֽה׃ וצדקיה׃ וצדקיהו כְּצִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ כצדקיהו לְצִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ לְצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ לְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ לְצִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ לצדקיהו צִדְקִיָּ֑הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֡הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֣ה צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֤ה צִדְקִיָּ֤הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֥ה צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ׃ צִדְקִיָּהוּ֮ צדקיה צדקיהו צדקיהו׃ kə·ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū kəṣiḏqîyāhū ketzidkiYahu lə·ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū ləṣiḏqîyāhū letzidkiYahu ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū ṣiḏ·qî·yāh ṣiḏqîyāh ṣiḏqîyāhū tzidkiYah tzidkiYahu vetzidkiYah vetzidkiYahu wə·ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū wə·ṣiḏ·qî·yāh wəṣiḏqîyāh wəṣiḏqîyāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 22:11 HEB: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ צִדְקִיָּ֥ה בֶֽן־ כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה NAS: Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah KJV: And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah INT: made Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah 1 Kings 22:24 2 Kings 24:17 2 Kings 24:18 2 Kings 24:20 2 Kings 25:2 2 Kings 25:7 2 Kings 25:7 1 Chronicles 3:15 1 Chronicles 3:16 2 Chronicles 18:10 2 Chronicles 18:23 2 Chronicles 36:10 2 Chronicles 36:11 Nehemiah 10:1 Jeremiah 1:3 Jeremiah 21:1 Jeremiah 21:3 Jeremiah 21:7 Jeremiah 24:8 Jeremiah 27:3 Jeremiah 27:12 Jeremiah 28:1 Jeremiah 29:3 Jeremiah 29:21 63 Occurrences |