2 Kings 15:33 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

2 Kings 15:33 kjv

Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15:33 nkjv

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15:33 niv

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15:33 esv

He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15:33 nlt

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15 33 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Kingship & Reign Duration
2 Kgs 18:2	Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned...	Similar age at ascension (righteous king).
2 Chr 27:1	Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned...	Parallel account in Chronicles.
2 Kgs 16:2	Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned...	Comparison with Jotham's wicked successor.
2 Kgs 21:1	Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned...	Youngest age at ascension (most wicked king).
2 Kgs 22:1	Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned...	Young age at ascension (righteous king).
1 Kgs 14:21	Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king...	Different ages of Davidic kings.
Jerusalem as Capital & Davidic Line
2 Sam 5:7	Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—that is, the City of David.	Establishment of Jerusalem as capital.
1 Kgs 11:36	...so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem.	God's promise of an enduring dynasty in Jerusalem.
Ps 89:3-4	“I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your dynasty forever..’”	Davidic covenant promise.
Zec 8:3	“Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in Jerusalem.”	Jerusalem's divine significance.
Jer 33:17-18	“For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne...”	Promise of Davidic and Levitical lines.
Role of Queen Mother
1 Kgs 15:13	He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother...	Queen mother's political influence.
2 Kgs 24:8	Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned... His mother's name was Nehushta...	Naming the queen mother was standard practice.
Jer 13:18	Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Come down from your thrones...”	Indicates queen mother's elevated status.
Zadokite Lineage & Piety
2 Sam 8:17	Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests...	Introduction of Zadok in David's time.
1 Kgs 2:35	The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and Zadok the priest...	Solomon installs Zadok as chief priest.
Ezek 44:15-16	“But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary...”	Zadokite priests' fidelity.
2 Chr 29:1-2	Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign... He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD...	Often, good mothers/priestly connections correlate with righteous kings.
2 Kgs 15:34	He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.	Jotham's personal righteousness, though not mentioned in verse 33, connects to his background.
Prov 1:8	Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.	General principle of parental influence.

2 Kings 15 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

2 Kings 15 33 Meaning

This verse introduces King Jotham, specifying his age at accession (twenty-five), the length of his reign (sixteen years), and the capital city where he ruled (Jerusalem). It also names his mother, Jerusha, and her father, Zadok, highlighting a connection to the respected Zadokite priestly lineage. It establishes Jotham's legitimate place within the Davidic dynasty and the Southern Kingdom.

2 Kings 15 33 Context

2 Kings chapter 15 records a period of instability and change in both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It lists multiple kings, especially in Israel, highlighting the rapid succession, assassinations, and general spiritual decline. Amidst this turmoil, Jotham's introduction in verse 33 comes after a detailed account of his father Uzziah's long and generally righteous reign, which ended with Uzziah being struck with leprosy due to his sin of encroaching upon priestly duties (2 Kgs 15:5; 2 Chr 26). Jotham served as co-regent during Uzziah's illness (2 Kgs 15:5). This verse marks the formal beginning of Jotham's sole reign, offering a moment of relative stability in the Davidic line. Historically, Judah at this time was contending with powerful regional entities like Assyria, though Jotham's reign is generally seen as one of strength and prosperity.

2 Kings 15 33 Word analysis

He: Refers to Jotham, who was acting as regent while his father Uzziah (also called Azariah) was afflicted with leprosy.
was twenty-five years old: This indicates Jotham's age when he formally ascended to the throne. It was a mature age for kings, suggesting a degree of readiness for leadership, unlike some who ascended very young.
when he became king: Marks his formal enthronement. This transition maintained the continuous, divinely promised Davidic line in Judah, providing legitimacy and stability in contrast to the volatile successions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
and he reigned sixteen years: Specifies the duration of Jotham's reign. Sixteen years represents a moderately long period of rule, suggesting a measure of political stability during his time, aligning with 2 Chronicles 27's description of his strength and building activities.
in Jerusalem: This explicitly identifies Jerusalem as the capital city, the rightful seat of the Davidic dynasty and the location of the Temple. This continuous presence in Jerusalem was central to the identity and divine promises for the Southern Kingdom, implicitly contrasting it with the various and often short-lived capitals of the Northern Kingdom.
His mother’s name was Jerusha: The inclusion of the queen mother's name was standard protocol in the Judahite succession accounts, often indicating her influence on the king or the legitimacy of his reign. "Jerusha" (יְרוּשָׁה, Yerusha) can mean "possessed" or "inheritance," possibly signifying her position or her connection to a significant heritage.
daughter of Zadok: This specific lineage is highly significant. Zadok (צָדוֹק, Tzadok), meaning "righteous" or "just," was the progenitor of a distinguished priestly line that gained prominence under David and was given sole legitimacy for the high priesthood under Solomon after Abiathar's removal (1 Kgs 2:35). Jotham's mother being from this venerable priestly family would connect the royal house with spiritual authority and a heritage of fidelity to YHWH, potentially contributing to Jotham's righteous character (as described in 2 Kgs 15:34). It contrasts sharply with many queen mothers of Israelite kings or even some Judahite kings (like Maacah in 1 Kgs 15:13) who promoted idolatry.

2 Kings 15 33 Bonus section

The consistent listing of the queen mother for the kings of Judah (and rarely for Israel) emphasizes her significant role within the royal court, beyond mere lineage. She often held a position of influence and was a prominent figure, sometimes even having a "queen mother" title, reflecting a societal recognition of the importance of the king's maternal background. The Zadokite lineage of Jerusha provided Jotham not only with an esteemed maternal heritage but also linked him to the established religious authority of Jerusalem. This dual legitimacy, royal from his father's side and priestly from his mother's, may have strengthened his reign and perhaps influenced his righteous conduct as king. This period saw the continuing faithfulness of Judah's legitimate priesthood, a stark contrast to the illegitimate priests established in the northern kingdom since its split.

2 Kings 15 33 Commentary

2 Kings 15:33 serves as a standard accession formula for King Jotham of Judah, packed with significant theological and historical implications. His ascension at twenty-five and reign of sixteen years in Jerusalem speak to a period of mature and relatively stable leadership for Judah within a turbulent era. The explicit mention of his mother, Jerusha, and her father, Zadok, points to a strong, legitimate lineage deeply rooted in both the royal and faithful priestly houses. This detail subtly but powerfully undergirds Jotham's subsequent characterization as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD" (2 Kgs 15:34). Unlike the northern kings, whose mother's names were typically omitted or tied to unrighteousness, Jotham's maternal line to Zadok highlights a continuity of righteousness and fidelity, reaffirming YHWH's commitment to the Davidic covenant and the legitimate worship in Jerusalem.