📖 Biblical Definition
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah (c. 597-586 BC), placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar as a vassal after Jehoiachin was deported. Originally named Mattaniah, he was Josiah’s third son and Jehoiachin’s uncle. Weak-willed, he listened to false prophets, ignored Jeremiah’s warnings, and broke his oath of allegiance to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:13; Ezekiel 17:11-21). Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem for two years, breached the walls, captured Zedekiah fleeing toward Jericho, slaughtered his sons before his eyes — and then put out those eyes (2 Kings 25:1-7; Jeremiah 39:1-7; 52). He was led blind to Babylon to die in prison. His reign is the cautionary close of the Davidic kingdom until the true Son of David comes.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Judah's last king before the exile.
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The last king of Judah, son of Josiah, placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar at the second deportation; rebelled against Babylon, was captured at Jericho when Jerusalem fell, watched his sons killed before his eyes were put out, and was led in chains to Babylon — a tragic close to David's monarchy.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Kings 25:6-7 — "So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah."
Jeremiah 38:5 — "Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you."
Ezekiel 12:13 — "I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Forgotten as one of many bad kings; missing how thoroughly his life dramatizes the cost of refusing prophetic word.
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Zedekiah's name means 'YHWH is my righteousness' but his life was the opposite. Jeremiah pleaded with him to surrender; he refused; the city fell; his sons died; he was blinded. The last sight he saw was his sons killed. Cost of rejecting the prophet.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Tsidqiyahu.
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['Hebrew', 'H6667', 'Tsidqiyahu', 'Zedekiah']
['Hebrew', 'H6664', 'tsedeq', 'righteousness']
Usage
"Heed the prophet earlier than Zedekiah did."
"His name promised what his life refused."