The Hebrew word N'kow refers to Pharaoh Necho (also spelled Neco), the Egyptian ruler of the 26th Dynasty who reigned from approximately 610-595 BC. His name is of Egyptian origin. Necho II played a pivotal role in the final decades of the kingdom of Judah, both as an adversary and as an instrument of God's sovereign purposes in the ancient Near East.
Pharaoh Necho is a key figure in the narrative of Judah's decline. He killed the righteous king Josiah at Megiddo when Josiah unwisely attempted to block Egypt's march north to aid Assyria against Babylon. Necho then deposed Josiah's son Jehoahaz and installed Jehoiakim as a vassal king. Theologically, Necho's role demonstrates that God's purposes move forward through the actions of pagan rulers, and that even godly kings can err when they fail to discern God's will. The narrative serves as a warning about presumption in the face of God's larger plans.