Ἑζεκίας

Hezekiah

Definition

Ἑζεκίας is the Greek form of the Hebrew name 'Hezekiah,' referring to the 13th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and father of Manasseh. He reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years (c. 727–698 B.C.) and is remembered as one of Judah's most righteous kings, known for his religious reforms and trust in God during the Assyrian crisis. In the New Testament, he appears exclusively in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:9-10, where he serves as a crucial link in the Davidic line, connecting King David to the Babylonian exile.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both occurrences in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:9, 1:10). Its usage is strictly genealogical, serving to list Hezekiah as an ancestor of Jesus within the structured lineage presented by Matthew. There is no narrative usage or theological discourse attached to the name itself in the NT; its significance is derived entirely from the Old Testament history it references.

Etymology

The name Ἑζεκίας is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name חִזְקִיָּה (Ḥizqīyyāhū), meaning 'Yahweh strengthens' or 'strength of Yahweh.' It entered Koine Greek through the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), where it was used to refer to the king. The Greek form preserves the phonetic sound and meaning of the original Hebrew.

Semantic Range

Hezekiah is a theologically significant figure as a model of faithful kingship who trusted God in dire circumstances (e.g., 2 Kings 18-20, Isaiah 36-39). His inclusion in Jesus's genealogy (Matthew 1:9-10) highlights God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant despite periods of national failure and exile. He represents a king who brought revival and whose life demonstrated that prayer can alter God's decreed judgment, prefiguring the ultimate king, Jesus, who brings eternal salvation.

In a first-century Jewish context, the name 'Hezekiah' would immediately evoke the revered king from 2 Kings and Isaiah, known for his piety, reforms, and miraculous deliverance from Assyria. For Matthew's original audience, listing him affirmed Jesus's legitimate royal pedigree from Judah's greatest reformers, contrasting with later wicked kings. The Greek spelling itself reflects the Hellenistic cultural setting where Hebrew names were adapted for Greek-speaking readers.

Δαυίδ (david, G1138) — Another king in Jesus's genealogy; David is the covenant founder, while Hezekiah is a later reformer in that line. | Ἰωσίας (iōsias, G2502) — A later reforming king of Judah also listed in Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:10-11), known for rediscovering the Law.

Word Details

Scripture References