Lexical Summary
Chilqiyyahu or Chilqiyyah: Hilkiah
Original Word:חִלְקִיָּה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Chilqiyah
Pronunciation:khil-kee-YAH-hoo or khil-kee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling:(khil-kee-yaw')
KJV: Hillkiah
NASB:Hilkiah
Word Origin:[fromH2506 (חֵלֶק - portion) andH3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]
1. portion of Jah
2. Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Hillkiah
Or Chilqiyahuw {khil-kee-yaw'-hoo}'fromcheleq andYahh; portion of Jah; {Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites -- Hillkiah.
see HEBREWcheleq
see HEBREWYahh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
cheleq and
YahDefinition"my portion is Yah," the name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationHilkiah (34).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, (
my portion is ) usually (), ; —
,2 Kings 18:18,26;Isaiah 22:20;Isaiah 36:3,22;2 Kings 18:37.
,2 Kings 22:4,8,14;2 Kings 23:4,24; 2Chronicles 34:9,14,15 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 34:18,20,22;2 Kings 22:8,10,12;1 Chronicles 5:39 (twice in verse);1 Chronicles 9:11; 2Chronicles 35:8;Ezra 7:1, compare alsoNehemiah 11:11.
father of JeremiahJeremiah 1:1. — The following are all
:
1 Chronicles 6:30.
1 Chronicles 26:11.
. of EzraNehemiah 4:8;Nehemiah 12:7,21.
Jeremiah 29:3.
Topical Lexicon
Overview“Hilkiah” designates at least nine different men in the Old Testament and appears about thirty-four times. The witnesses range from pre-exilic palace officials and priests to post-exilic family heads. Together they illustrate the Lord’s faithfulness in raising up godly leadership and preserving His word across centuries of Israel’s history.
Hilkiah the High Priest under King Josiah
Principal texts:2 Kings 22–23;2 Chronicles 34–35;1 Chronicles 6:13;Ezra 7:1.
During Josiah’s eighteenth year the temple was being repaired when “Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:14). By passing the scroll to Shaphan, and ultimately to the king, Hilkiah became a pivotal instrument in one of Scripture’s greatest national revivals. Josiah’s humbled response (2 Kings 22:11) and sweeping reforms (2 Kings 23:4-25) underscore the transforming power of rediscovered Scripture.
Hilkiah’s ministry extended beyond finding the scroll. He:
• Oversaw funds for temple repairs (2 Kings 22:4).
• Joined the delegation to consult Huldah the prophetess (2 Kings 22:14).
• Superintended the removal and destruction of idolatrous objects (2 Kings 23:4).
• Supplied animals for Josiah’s unparalleled Passover (2 Chronicles 35:8).
Genealogies trace his line from Zadok (1 Chronicles 6:8-15) and down to Ezra the scribe (Ezra 7:1), linking Josiah’s reformation directly with the later restoration under Zerubbabel and Ezra.
Hilkiah the Father of the Prophet Jeremiah
Text:Jeremiah 1:1.
Jeremiah identifies himself as “the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests dwelling at Anathoth.” This Hilkiah belonged to a priestly family from Abiathar’s line (1 Kings 2:26), distinct from the Zadokite high priests at Jerusalem. Growing up in such a household would have immersed Jeremiah in temple liturgy and prophetic tradition, preparing him for his challenging forty-year ministry.
Hilkiah the Father of Eliakim the Palace Steward
Texts:2 Kings 18:18-37; 19:2;Isaiah 22:20; 36:3, 22; 37:2.
Eliakim son of Hilkiah served as chief steward (“over the household”) for King Hezekiah. When the Assyrian Rabshakeh threatened Jerusalem, Eliakim represented the king before the enemy and then before Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah later foretold that Eliakim would be entrusted with “the key of the house of David” (Isaiah 22:22). The steadfastness of both father and son shines in an age beset by foreign aggression and domestic unbelief.
Hilkiah Ancestor in Levitical and Priestly Genealogies
1 Chronicles 6:45; 9:11;Nehemiah 11:11; 12:7, 21.
Multiple genealogy lists include men named Hilkiah, highlighting the name’s prevalence among faithful Levites:
• A Merarite Levite in the line of Ethan (1 Chronicles 6:45).
• An ancestor of Seraiah the priest, serving after the exile (1 Chronicles 9:11;Nehemiah 11:11).
• Head of a priestly division in the days of Joiakim (Nehemiah 12:7, 21).
These brief notices underscore the continuity of priestly service from monarchy through restoration.
Hilkiah the Father of Gemariah, Royal Envoy
Text:Jeremiah 29:3.
When King Zedekiah sent emissaries to Nebuchadnezzar, Gemariah son of Hilkiah carried Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles. Though little else is known, Hilkiah’s household again shows its proximity to prophetic and diplomatic activity during critical national moments.
Additional Occurrences
• A temple gatekeeper listed between Zechariah and Obed-Edom (1 Chronicles 26:11).
• Various priests bearing the name in post-exilic registers, reflecting the renewed commitment to covenant worship.
Theological and Ministry Themes
1. Custodians of God’s Word
Hilkiah the high priest epitomizes faithful guardianship, illustrating how a single act of preserving and proclaiming Scripture can reshape a nation.
2. Intergenerational Faithfulness
From Merarite singers to post-exilic priests, the recurrence of the name across centuries portrays covenant loyalty handed down through families.
3. Courage in Crisis
Whether facing Assyrian intimidation (Eliakim’s father), Babylonian dominance (Gemariah’s father), or internal apostasy (Josiah’s day), each Hilkiah appears amid turmoil, yet God uses them to uphold truth.
4. Servant Leadership
The Hilkiahs serve in roles ranging from gatekeeper to high priest, showing that influence in God’s kingdom arises from obedience rather than position alone.
Lessons for Today
• Revival begins when God’s people rediscover and obey His Word.
• The Lord raises faithful servants across generations, preserving His purposes despite national decline.
• Quiet obedience—repairing a temple, carrying a letter, standing in a genealogy—can have far-reaching impact when undertaken for God’s glory.
Forms and Transliterations
וְחִלְקִיָּ֖ה וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה וחלקיה חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ חִלְקִיָּ֑ה חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֔ה חִלְקִיָּ֖ה חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֗הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ חִלְקִיָּ֛הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֜ה חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֡הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֣ה חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ ׀ חִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֥הוּ חִלְקִיָּ֧ה חִלְקִיָּ֨ה חִלְקִיָּֽה׃ חִלְקִיָּֽהוּ׃ חִלְקִיָּהוּ֩ חלקיה חלקיה׃ חלקיהו חלקיהו׃ לְחִלְקִיָּ֣ה לחלקיה chilkiYah chilkiYahu ḥil·qî·yā·hū ḥil·qî·yāh ḥilqîyāh ḥilqîyāhū lə·ḥil·qî·yāh lechilkiYah ləḥilqîyāh vechilkiYah wə·ḥil·qî·yāh wəḥilqîyāh
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