צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ
tsid.qiy.yah
Zedekiah
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ" (tsid.qiy.yah), Strong's number H6667K, is a proper name referring to a person. The transliteration "Zedekiah" suggests that this name is likely composed of two elements: "tsid" or "sedeq" meaning "righteous," and "ya" indicating "God" or a divine being. The name can thus be interpreted as "God is righteous" or a similar declaration of divine character. The limited occurrences in the Bible, only two, indicate that Zedekiah may be a historically significant figure, but not a figure deeply embedded in the narrative. This scarcity may also suggest that the name carries a specific meaning or significance. The significance of the name Zedekiah lies in its connection to the character of God, drawing attention to the divine nature as righteous. The lack of extensive narrative surrounding the name may underscore its focus as a declaration of faith. The proper name status of "צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ" emphasizes its connection to a particular individual or family, yet the meaning resides in the divine attributes invoked by the name. This distinction highlights the importance of understanding individual names within biblical narratives as more than just labels, but meaningful reflections of divine character.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: “Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he will kill them before your eyes.
Jeremiah 29:22A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;’