Jeremiah 52 1

Jeremiah 52:1 kjv

Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Jeremiah 52:1 nkjv

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Jeremiah 52:1 niv

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.

Jeremiah 52:1 esv

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Jeremiah 52:1 nlt

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 1 meaning

Jeremiah 52:1 introduces Zedekiah, the final king of Judah before the Babylonian exile, specifying his age at ascension (21 years), the duration of his reign (11 years) in Jerusalem, and the identity of his mother, Hamutal, from Libnah. This verse sets the stage for the detailed account of Jerusalem's fall, Judah's captivity, and the tragic fulfillment of divine judgment due to their persistent disobedience and Zedekiah's failed leadership, serving as a historical epilogue that validates the preceding prophecies in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 52 1 Context

Jeremiah 52:1 functions as the introduction to the historical appendix of the Book of Jeremiah, summarizing the final events of Judah's kingdom. While much of Jeremiah consists of prophecies and sermons, chapter 52 provides a factual historical record of the Babylonian siege, the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the subsequent exile, effectively serving as the fulfillment proof of Jeremiah's prophetic warnings. It mirrors 2 Kings 24:18–25:21 and 2 Chronicles 36:11–21, confirming the dire predictions made throughout the preceding chapters of Jeremiah. The verse places Zedekiah firmly at the center of this ultimate national tragedy, highlighting the culmination of Judah's unfaithfulness and its consequences under his short and ill-fated reign.

Historically, this period saw the geopolitical dominance of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II. Judah, a small kingdom, was caught between the rising Babylonian power and the declining influence of Egypt. Zedekiah's decision to rebel against Babylon, against the counsel of Jeremiah, sealed the fate of Jerusalem and its people, leading to the devastating events recounted in the rest of the chapter.

Jeremiah 52 1 Word analysis

• Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu): His original name was Mattaniah. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name to Zedekiah, meaning "Yahweh is my righteousness" or "My righteousness is Yahweh." This name ironically stands in stark contrast to his unrighteous actions and reign, where he defied divine instruction through the prophet Jeremiah and rebelled against the Babylonian suzerainty established by God.
• twenty and one years old: This indicates a relatively young age for a king, potentially suggesting a lack of seasoned judgment or experience in navigating complex geopolitical and internal religious crises. His reign was short-lived, failing to rectify the long-standing sins of Judah.
• began to reign, and he reigned eleven years: The phrase delineates the specific, brief period of his authority, underscoring the final, terminal phase of the Judahite monarchy. The brevity highlights the instability and rapid decline during his time on the throne, ending in ultimate defeat.
• Jerusalem: (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim): The capital city of Judah, God's chosen city, and the site of His Temple. The mention of Jerusalem here immediately foreshadows its tragic fall and destruction, as it was the spiritual and political heart of the nation where the covenant promises were ultimately broken.
• Hamutal (חֲמוּטַל, Ḥămuṭal): Meaning "my kinsman is dew" or "father-in-law's protection," she was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Naming the queen mother was a common practice in biblical narratives, as she often held significant influence in royal courts and her lineage contributed to the king's legitimacy or perceived character.
• Jeremiah of Libnah: This is not the prophet Jeremiah, but a different individual, indicated by the specific mention of his town of origin, Libnah. Libnah was a city southwest of Judah, designated as a Levitical city in Joshua 21:13. This detail firmly roots Zedekiah's mother within a known lineage and location.

• "began to reign, and he reigned eleven years": This phrase precisely brackets Zedekiah's tumultuous and ultimately catastrophic period as monarch. It encapsulates a time characterized by rebellion against God's appointed instrument (Babylon), political maneuvering with Egypt, and consistent disregard for the prophet Jeremiah's warnings, all leading to Judah's demise.

Jeremiah 52 1 Bonus section

The positioning of chapter 52 as an appendix in the book of Jeremiah is significant. While chapters 1-51 contain the prophet's words, oracles, and biographical narratives, chapter 52 functions as a historical proof, confirming the veracity of Jeremiah's messages. It shows that everything Jeremiah prophesied regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the exile indeed came to pass, thereby underscoring divine judgment and the faithfulness of God's word, even in judgment. Zedekiah's story encapsulates the failure of leadership and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. Furthermore, the absence of any reference to Zedekiah having children who would succeed him reinforces the prophecy that Judah's Davidic lineage would temporarily cease to rule following the exile, as the monarchy would not be re-established until the coming of the Messiah.

Jeremiah 52 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:1 is a critical, yet straightforward, historical notation that anchors the final, devastating account of Judah’s demise within specific temporal and genealogical parameters. It serves as an impartial factual record, setting the stage for the fulfillment of the grim prophecies pronounced throughout the book. The mention of Zedekiah's name, meaning "Yahweh is my righteousness," becomes powerfully ironic given his unrighteous and disobedient reign, during which he repeatedly defied divine counsel through Jeremiah and made disastrous political decisions. His brief 11-year rule encapsulates the culmination of generations of Judah's apostasy, directly leading to Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile. The inclusion of his mother’s identity and origin, a common ancient Near Eastern practice, serves to provide full royal administrative context. This opening verse is thus a prelude to national tragedy, grounding prophetic fulfillment in documented historical reality.