יוֹיָכִין

יוֹיָכִין

Jojakin, an Israelite king

Definition

Yôwyâkîyn is a variant spelling of the name Jehoiachin (יְהוֹיָכִין, H3078), referring to Jehoiachin, the eighteenth king of Judah. He was the son of King Jehoiakim and reigned for only three months in 598–597 BC before being taken captive to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:8–15). In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet dates his visions from the year of Jehoiachin's exile (Ezekiel 1:2), using this variant spelling to mark a pivotal moment in Judah's history. His story highlights the tragic end of the Davidic monarchy before the Babylonian exile.

Biblical Usage

This specific spelling, Yôwyâkîyn, occurs only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 1:2, where it dates Ezekiel's inaugural vision. In contrast, the more common spelling, יְהוֹיָכִין (Jehoiachin), is used elsewhere (e.g., 2 Kings 24:6, 8–15; 2 Chronicles 36:8–9; Jeremiah 52:31–34). Both forms refer to the same historical king. The usage in Ezekiel serves as a chronological anchor, linking the prophet's ministry directly to the exile of Judah's king.

Etymology

The name Yôwyâkîyn is a variant form of יְהוֹיָכִין (Yehoyakîn, H3078), meaning 'Yahweh establishes' or 'Yahweh will uphold.' It is derived from the divine name Yahweh (יְהוֹה) combined with the verb כּוּן (kûn), meaning 'to establish' or 'to set up.' This name reflects a theological hope in God's sustaining power, even though the king's reign was cut short by exile.

Semantic Range

Jehoiachin's brief reign and exile are theologically significant as they mark the apparent failure of the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:16). However, later biblical texts show God's faithfulness despite judgment: Jehoiachin is eventually shown favor in Babylon (2 Kings 25:27–30), and he remains part of the genealogy leading to Jesus (Matthew 1:11–12). His name, meaning 'Yahweh establishes,' ironically underscores that God's purposes endure even through human failure and exile. In ancient Judah, royal names often incorporated the divine name (Yahweh) to express devotion and invoke divine protection. Jehoiachin's name, meaning 'Yahweh establishes,' would have conveyed a hope for stable, God-ordained kingship. His rapid deposition and exile, however, starkly contrasted with this meaning, highlighting the political turmoil and divine judgment of the period. The variant spelling in Ezekiel may reflect regional or scribal differences in pronunciation or transcription during the exile. יְהוֹיָכִין (Yehoyakîn, H3078) — The standard spelling of the same king's name, used throughout Kings, Chronicles, and Jeremiah. יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqîm, H3079) — His father, King Jehoiakim, whose name means 'Yahweh raises up.' צִדְקִיָּהוּ (Tsidqiyyâhû, H6667) — His uncle, King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, whose name means 'Yahweh is my righteousness.'

Word Details