Topical Encyclopedia
Coniah, also known as Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, was a king of Judah who reigned for a brief period before being taken into Babylonian captivity. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah. Coniah was the son of Jehoiakim and the grandson of Josiah, one of the last kings of Judah before the Babylonian exile.
Reign and CaptivityConiah ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen, following the death of his father, Jehoiakim. His reign lasted only three months and ten days, as recorded in
2 Chronicles 36:9: "Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days." During his short reign, he continued the evil practices of his predecessors, failing to turn the nation back to the worship of Yahweh.
The political climate of the time was tumultuous, with the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar exerting dominance over the region. In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, and Coniah surrendered to him. As a result, Coniah, along with his family, officials, and many of the leading citizens of Judah, was taken into exile in Babylon. This event is detailed in
2 Kings 24:12: "Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his officials, and his eunuchs surrendered to the king of Babylon."
Prophetic JudgmentThe prophet Jeremiah delivered a significant prophecy concerning Coniah, declaring that none of his descendants would sit on the throne of David. In
Jeremiah 22:24-30, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah, saying, "As surely as I live, declares the LORD, even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would still pull you off." The prophecy further states that Coniah would be childless in terms of royal succession, emphasizing that none of his offspring would prosper on the throne of David.
This prophecy has been a point of interest in biblical studies, particularly concerning the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' legal lineage is traced through Joseph, a descendant of Jeconiah (
Matthew 1:11-12). However, the virgin birth, as described in the Gospels, bypasses the curse on Coniah's line, as Jesus is born of Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilling the Davidic covenant without contradiction.
Later Life and LegacyConiah spent thirty-seven years in Babylonian captivity. In the thirty-seventh year of his exile, he was released from prison by Evil-merodach, the king of Babylon, who showed him favor and elevated his status above other captive kings (
2 Kings 25:27-30). This act of kindness allowed Coniah to dine regularly at the king's table and live out his days in relative comfort.
Coniah's life and reign serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God. His account is a testament to the fulfillment of prophetic words and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through history, despite human failure.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Coniahstrength of the Lord
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Coniah[JECONIAH]
ATS Bible Dictionary
ConiahSeeJEHOIACHIN.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CONIAHko-ni'-a (konyahu, "Jah is creating"): A form of the name Jehoiachin, found inJeremiah 22:24, 28;Jeremiah 37:1.
SeeJEHOIACHIN.
Strong's Hebrew
3659. Konyahu --Coniah... Konyahu. 3660 .
Coniah. Transliteration: Konyahu Phonetic Spelling: (kon-yaw'-
hoo) Short Definition:
Coniah. Word Origin the same as Yehoyakin, qv.
Coniah...3078. Yehoyakin -- "the LORD appoints," a king of Judah
... Word Origin from Yhvh and kun Definition "the LORD appoints," a king of Judah NASB
Word UsageConiah (3), Jehoiachin (10), Jehoiachin's (1). Jehoiachin....
Library
The Captivity.
... Jehoiakim died in the midst of the war, and his equally wicked son, Jehoiachin,
Coniah, or Jeconiah, was soon forced to come out, and surrender to...
Questions.
... A. Both because Jeremiah sentencedConiah to be childless, and in Luke
3.Zerubbabel's descent is derived from David, through Nathan....
Approaching Doom
... Jehoiachin [also known as Jeconiah, andConiah], the son of Jehoiakim, occupied
the throne only three months and ten days, when he surrendered to the Chaldean...
Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... the rock of the wilderness'=Moab. [1463] Also calledConiah and Jehoiachin. [1464]
They are reckoned as forming one book in the Hebrew Bible. [1465] Hosea 1:2....
The Barren Fig-Tree;
... This fig-tree, 'this manConiah' (Jeremiah 22:28). This people draw nigh me
with their mouth, but have removed their hearts far from me....
Paul's Departure and Crown;
... 15:10). As God said toConiah, 'Did not thy father eat and drink, and do
judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He...
The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <....
The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8. <....
Thesaurus
Coniah (3 Occurrences)...CONIAH. ko-ni'-a (konyahu, "Jah is creating"): A form of the name Jehoiachin, found
in Jeremiah 22:24, 28; Jeremiah 37:1. See JEHOIACHIN.
...Coniah (3 Occurrences).
...Coni'ah (3 Occurrences)
Coni'ah.Coniah, Coni'ah. Conies .... Jeremiah 22:28 A grief -- a despised broken
thing -- is this manConiah? A vessel in which there is no pleasure?...
Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)
... when only eight years of age, and reigned for one hundred days (2 Chronicles
36:9). He is also called Jeconiah (Jeremiah 24:1; 27:20, etc.), andConiah (22:24...
Proper (62 Occurrences)
... Thus King Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6 Jeremiah 52:31) was known also as Jeconiah (Jeremiah
24:1; Jeremiah 28:4) andConiah (Jeremiah 22:24, 28; Jeremiah 37:1...
Jehoi'akim (34 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 22:24 I live -- an affirmation of Jehovah, ThoughConiah son of Jehoiakim
king of Judah Were a seal on My right hand, Surely thence I draw thee away...
Names (133 Occurrences)
... Thus King Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:6 Jeremiah 52:31) was known also as Jeconiah (Jeremiah
24:1; Jeremiah 28:4) andConiah (Jeremiah 22:24, 28; Jeremiah 37:1...
Vase (3 Occurrences)
... of the Covenant. (WEY). Jeremiah 22:28 Is this manConiah a despised broken
vase? a vessel wherein is no delight? Wherefore are they...
Nebuchadrez'zar (31 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 37:1 And reign doth king Zedekiah son of Josiah instead ofConiah son of
Jehoiakim whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had caused to reign in the land...
Undesirable (4 Occurrences)
... Yahweh." (See NIV). Jeremiah 22:28 Is this manConiah a despised broken
vessel? is he a vessel in which none delights? why are they...
Delighteth (23 Occurrences)
... abominations. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Jeremiah 22:28 Is this manConiah a despised
broken vessel? is he a vessel wherein none delighteth?...
Resources
Who was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the curse of Jeconiah? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
