1 Chronicles 3 16

1 Chronicles 3:16 kjv

And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.

1 Chronicles 3:16 nkjv

The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah his son and Zedekiah his son.

1 Chronicles 3:16 niv

The successors of Jehoiakim: Jehoiachin his son, and Zedekiah.

1 Chronicles 3:16 esv

The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son;

1 Chronicles 3:16 nlt

The successors of Jehoiakim were his son Jehoiachin and his brother Zedekiah.

1 Chronicles 3 verses

1 Chronicles 3 16 Meaning

1 Chronicles 3:16 serves as a continuation of the genealogical record of the Davidic line, specifically listing the immediate descendants of King Jehoiakim. It establishes Jeconiah and Zedekiah as his sons, playing a crucial role in connecting the royal lineage that led to the end of the Kingdom of Judah and the Babylonian exile, yet critically preserving the thread of the Davidic covenant despite these tumultuous events. The inclusion of these figures emphasizes the Chronicler's focus on the continuity of the promised line of David, even amidst national disaster and divine judgment.

1 Chronicles 3 16 Context

1 Chronicles 3:16 is situated within the expansive genealogies that open the book of 1 Chronicles (chapters 1-9). Specifically, it falls within the detailed tracing of the Davidic line (1 Chr 3:1-24). After establishing David's own sons and those born in Jerusalem (1 Chr 3:1-9), the Chronicler meticulously follows the succession of kings from Solomon down to the exilic and post-exilic periods. This particular verse focuses on Jehoiakim's two significant "sons" – Jeconiah and Zedekiah. Its inclusion underscores the critical juncture of the Davidic monarchy's end and the transition into exile, while simultaneously maintaining the covenantal promise of a continuous Davidic seed, which is vital for the Chronicler's audience of returning exiles. Historically, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah (Jehoiachin), and Zedekiah were the last kings of Judah, reigning consecutively before the final destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Babylon. Their reigns symbolize the culmination of God's judgment upon the nation for its apostasy, but their very listing within this sacred genealogy serves as a beacon of hope, testifying to the unyielding faithfulness of God to His promise concerning David's throne.

1 Chronicles 3 16 Word analysis

• The sons: Hebrew "בְנֵ֥י" (b'nei), meaning "sons of." This immediately signals a genealogical listing, focusing on direct paternal lineage. The plural "sons" indicates more than one direct male descendant being highlighted for a specific reason.

• of Jehoiakim: Hebrew "יְהוֹיָקִ֛ים" (Yehoyaqim), meaning "Yahweh raises up" or "Yahweh establishes." He was a king of Judah, placed on the throne by Pharaoh Neco (2 Ki 23:34). His name ironically contrasts with the disastrous end of his reign and the subsequent destruction of Judah.

• Jeconiah: Hebrew "יְכָנְיָה֙" (Yekonyah), meaning "Yahweh establishes" or "Yahweh makes firm." He is also widely known by his throne name, Jehoiachin (יְהוֹיָכִין Yehoyachin, "Yahweh will uphold"), and sometimes simply as Coniah (כָּנְיָה Konyah). This naming variance in scripture is important. Despite his short, ill-fated reign and subsequent exile to Babylon, his presence here is crucial. The prophecy in Jer 22:30 states that "no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David," seemingly severing his ruling line. However, the Chronicler's inclusion, followed by his descendants (1 Chr 3:17-24), highlights that while the ruling line was broken for a time, the bloodline or genealogical succession from David was preserved, crucial for later messianic hopes.

• his son: Hebrew "בְנ֛וֹ" (b'no), meaning "his son." This reinforces the direct filial relationship between Jehoiakim and Jeconiah.

• Zedekiah: Hebrew "צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ" (Tsidqiyyahu), meaning "Yahweh is my righteousness." Originally named Mattaniah (מַתַּנְיָה Mattanyah, "gift of Yahweh"), his name was changed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:17). Ironically, despite his name signifying righteousness of Yahweh, he was Judah's most unrighteous last king, openly rebelling against Babylon, leading to Jerusalem's final downfall and the severe judgment on the nation (2 Ki 25). He was not Jehoiakim's direct biological son but his brother, and thus his "son" in this genealogical context refers to a direct successor or adopted/designated heir in a broader sense of succession to the kingship, which he obtained as a Babylonian vassal after Jeconiah's deportation.

• "Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son" (grouping): This structure presents a concise record of the immediate successors to Jehoiakim. While Jeconiah was Jehoiakim's biological son and direct successor, Zedekiah was Jehoiakim's brother (2 Ki 24:17, 1 Chr 3:15, comparing Zedekiah with Jehoiakim as a son of Josiah), not his direct son. The Chronicler, like other ancient genealogies, may use "son" (ben) more broadly to mean "descendant," "successor," "kin," or even "member of the royal house." In this specific case, Zedekiah succeeded Jeconiah (albeit installed by a foreign power), thus holding the kingship from Jehoiakim's line. The dual "his son" highlights the critical end-points of the monarchy, one the legitimate successor exiled, the other a related puppet king whose rebellion brought final ruin, yet both belonging to the royal Davidic family, maintaining the continuous (albeit broken) chain that the Chronicler desires to show.

1 Chronicles 3 16 Bonus section

The Chronicler's detailed tracing of these final kings before the exile, in contrast to the historical books of Kings, which heavily emphasize their unfaithfulness leading to national disaster, serves a different purpose. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, struggling to re-establish themselves in the land and facing questions about God's faithfulness, this genealogy emphasizes continuity and hope. By showing that the Davidic line persevered through exile and punishment (via Jeconiah's actual descendants listed subsequently), the Chronicler implicitly conveys that God's promises are secure, even if their fulfillment is delayed. It serves as an apologetic for God's enduring covenant, laying the foundation for the later appearance of figures like Zerubbabel (Jeconiah's grandson, Hag 1:1, a leader in the post-exilic community) and ultimately the Messiah in Matthew's genealogy. The repeated phrase "his son" even for Zedekiah (who was Jehoiakim's brother, not biological son), emphasizes dynastic succession and inclusion in the royal household rather than strict biology, reinforcing the notion of a continuous (even if sometimes complex) royal line.

1 Chronicles 3 16 Commentary

1 Chronicles 3:16, while appearing as a mere list, is a verse of profound theological and historical significance within the Chronicler's overarching narrative. By precisely listing "Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son" after Jehoiakim, the Chronicler confronts the pivotal moment of the Judahite monarchy's end and the transition into exile. Jeconiah (also Jehoiachin) represents the last legitimate Davidic king on the throne of Judah before the main exile, whereas Zedekiah was a placeholder installed by Babylon whose defiance sealed Judah's fate. The inclusion of Jeconiah is particularly striking because he was "childless" in terms of having a ruling successor according to Jeremiah's prophecy (Jer 22:30). Yet, Chronicles immediately proceeds to list his sons (1 Chr 3:17), underscoring that the divine judgment concerned the occupancy of the throne in Jerusalem (the king ruling in Jerusalem) but not the extinction of the Davidic lineage itself. This seemingly minor detail reassures the post-exilic audience of Chronicles that God's covenant with David remains unbroken. Despite the calamities, the line of promise endures, pointing towards the faithfulness of God even in judgment, and preserving the thread of hope for a future Davidic king.