Ἰεχονίας

Jechoniah

Definition

Ἰεχονίας (Jechoniah) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jehoiachin, a king of Judah. In the New Testament, it refers specifically to Jechoniah (also called Jeconiah or Coniah), the son of Jehoiakim and grandson of Josiah, who reigned for only three months before being exiled to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-15). In the Gospel of Matthew's genealogy (Matthew 1:11-12), he appears twice: first as part of the lineage leading to the Babylonian exile, and then as the father of Shealtiel (Salathiel). This dual listing highlights his pivotal role in the division of the genealogy around the exile event.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:11 and 1:12. Its usage is strictly onomastic (name-based) and genealogical, serving to connect the Davidic royal line through the period of the Babylonian exile to the birth of Jesus. There is no variation in its meaning between these two occurrences; it consistently identifies the historical figure King Jechoniah.

Etymology

Ἰεχονίας is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name יְכָנְיָה (Yekonyah) or יְהוֹיָכִין (Yehoyakhin), meaning 'Yahweh establishes' or 'Yahweh will uphold.' The Greek form preserves the sound and meaning of the original Hebrew, a common practice for proper names in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and the New Testament.

Semantic Range

Jechoniah is theologically significant as a key figure in the Davidic covenant lineage. His exile to Babylon (Jeremiah 22:24-30) represented a severe crisis for the promise of an eternal Davidic throne. Matthew's genealogy strategically includes him to show that Jesus Christ is the legal heir to this throne, even through a line that experienced divine judgment. Understanding this Greek name connects Jesus to the full sweep of Israel's history, including its failures, and highlights God's faithfulness in preserving the messianic line through the exile.

In first-century Jewish culture, genealogies were vital for establishing identity, lineage, and legal rights, especially for claims to the Davidic throne. Jechoniah was remembered as a king whose short reign ended in national catastrophe (the exile), a event that shaped Jewish identity and hope for restoration. Matthew's audience would have recognized his name immediately as a marker of the exile period and the subsequent hope for a restored king.

Ἰεχονίας has no true synonyms as a proper name. It refers to the same individual also called Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:16) and Coniah (Jeremiah 22:24, 37:1) in the Hebrew Bible, but these are variant forms of the same name, not distinct Greek words.

Word Details

Scripture References