Sedekias
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Sedekias in the Bible?
Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was installed as king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. He rebelled against Babylonian authority, leading to the siege of Jerusalem, its destruction, and his own capture and blinding by the Babylonians. The name Sedekias appears in the Book of Jeremiah and 2 Kings, referring to this king, while also appearing in the Book of Baruch as the name of an ancestor of the scribe Baruch.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Zedekiah's reign clarifies the historical context of the Babylonian exile and the political instability that precipitated the fall of Jerusalem, while the mention of Sedekias as Baruch's ancestor provides genealogical context for the author of the deuterocanonical Book of Baruch.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Sedekias in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Sedekias clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.