Lexical Summary
Tsidqiyyahu or Tsidqiyyah: Zedekiah
Original Word:צִדְקִיָּה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Tsidqiyah
Pronunciation:tsid-kee-YAH-hoo or tsid-kee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling:(tsid-kee-yaw')
KJV: Zedekiah, Zidkijah
NASB:Zedekiah, Zedekiah's
Word Origin:[fromH6664 (צֶּדֶק - righteousness) andH3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]
1. right of Jah
2. Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zedekiah, Zidkijah
Or Tsidqiyahuw {tsid-kee-yaw'-hoo}; fromtsedeq andYahh; right of Jah; Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites -- Zedekiah, Zidkijah.
see HEBREWtsedeq
see HEBREWYahh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
tsedeqDefinition"Yah is righteousness," six Isr.
NASB TranslationZedekiah (63), Zedekiah's (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
56,
7 (is righteousness; compare Sabean DHMib., on No. 32); — ():
, , changed to2 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; Psalms;Jeremiah 27:12;Jeremiah 28:1;Jeremiah 29:3;Jeremiah 49:34.
false prophets:
under Ahab,1 Kings 22:24 2Chronicles 18:10,23;1 Kings 22:11.
Jeremiah's time,Jeremiah 29:21,22.
prince, Jeremiah's time,Jeremiah 36:12.
, priest, Nehemiah's time,Nehemiah 10:2 (L ).
, son of Jehoiachin, according to1 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).
• Spiritual Climate. Jeremiah ministered throughout the reign, calling the king to repentance (Jeremiah 21; 34; 37–39). Zedekiah alternated between secret consultation with the prophet (Jeremiah 37:17) and public vacillation that empowered court officials to persecute Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:5–6).
• Final Collapse. After an 18-month siege, Jerusalem fell. “They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes” (2 Kings 25:7). The king died in Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 52:11).
• Theological Significance. His downfall epitomizes covenant breach. The king who should have embodied his name instead embodies unrighteousness, proving that only the promised “Branch” (Jeremiah 23:5–6) can live up to the title, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”
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).
• Confrontation. Micaiah exposed the lying spirit sent to Ahab’s prophets (1 Kings 22:23). Zedekiah struck Micaiah and mocked the divine verdict (1 Kings 22:24).
• Lesson. Charisma and majority opinion never override revealed truth.
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).
• Sin. He prophesied lies and committed adultery (Jeremiah 29:23).
• Warning. Even in exile, counterfeit revelation threatened the remnant; God vindicated His word by visible judgment.
4.Priests and Levites Named Zedekiah
• A priest, descendant of Immer, served in Jerusalem after the exile (1 Chronicles 9:12;Nehemiah 11:11).
• Their quiet fidelity contrasts with the more famous unfaithfulness of the royal namesake.
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.”
•Jeremiah 21:8–9 – “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”
•Ezekiel 17:18–19 – “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD… I will bring down on his own head My oath that he despised.”
•1 Kings 22:23 – “Behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours.”
•Jeremiah 29:21 – “I will make them a curse among all the exiles of Judah in Babylon.”
•Nehemiah 10:1 – “On the seals were the names of: Nehemiah the governor, 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.
• Prophetic Truth versus False Assurance. Two prophets named Zedekiah illustrate powerful deception when self-interest suppresses God’s word.
• Righteous Name, Unrighteous Deeds. Most bearers disgrace the name, highlighting humanity’s need for the coming King who truly is “Yahweh our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).
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).
• Discernment of Prophecy. Believers must test the spirits (1 John 4:1) and honor Scripture above persuasive personalities.
• Leadership Accountability. Positions of authority magnify both faithfulness and failure; leaders must embody the righteousness they proclaim.
• Hope after Failure. Post-exilic Zedekiahs show God’s readiness to restore and use those who re-covenant with Him.
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 wəṣiḏqîyāhū
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