חִזְקִיָּה
Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites
Definition
חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh) is the name of several individuals in the Old Testament, most notably Hezekiah, the 13th king of Judah who reigned from approximately 715–686 BC. He is celebrated as one of Judah's most righteous kings, known for his religious reforms, trust in God during the Assyrian crisis, and the miraculous extension of his life (2 Kings 18–20; 2 Chronicles 29–32). The name also refers to other figures, including a forefather of the prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1) and a post-exilic leader (Nehemiah 10:17), though these are less prominent.
Biblical Usage
The name appears 79 times, predominantly in the historical books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah, detailing King Hezekiah's reign. It is used in narratives about his reforms (2 Chronicles 29:1–3), his confrontation with Assyria (2 Kings 18:13–19:37), and his illness and recovery (2 Kings 20:1–11). The usage consistently portrays him as a faithful king who 'did what was right in the eyes of the LORD' (2 Kings 18:3).
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root חָזַק (ḥāzaq, H2388), meaning 'to be strong,' and the divine name יָהּ (Yāh, H3050), a shortened form of Yahweh. The full name חִזְקִיָּהוּ (Chizqîyâhû) means 'Yahweh strengthens' or 'strengthened of Yah,' highlighting divine empowerment. Variants include יְחִזְקִיָּה (Yechizqîyâh) and יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ (Yechizqîyâhû).
Semantic Range
King Hezekiah embodies the theological theme of covenant faithfulness and divine deliverance. His story illustrates God's response to repentance and trust, as seen in the defense of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35) and the sign of the sundial (2 Kings 20:8–11). The name's etymology—'Yahweh strengthens'—reflects the biblical truth that God empowers His people for obedience and leadership, a concept central to Judah's monarchy and God's promises to David.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often expressed religious identity or parental hopes. 'Hezekiah' signified a family's devotion to Yahweh, especially during a period of Assyrian threat and religious apostasy. As king, his name became associated with national revival, contrasting with his father Ahaz's idolatry, and symbolized Yahweh's role as the true source of Judah's strength against empires.
יְחִזְקִיָּה (Yechizqîyâh, H3169) — A variant spelling of the same name, used interchangeably in some texts (e.g., Isaiah 1:1).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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