2 Kings 24:19
New International Version
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

New Living Translation
But Zedekiah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, just as Jehoiakim had done.

English Standard Version
And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Berean Standard Bible
And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

Berean Literal Bible
And He did evil in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

King James Bible
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

New King James Version
He also did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

New American Standard Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that Jehoiakim had done.

NASB 1995
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

NASB 1977
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Amplified Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that Jehoiakim had done.

Berean Annotated Bible
And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, just as Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) had done.

Christian Standard Bible
Zedekiah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight just as Jehoiakim had done.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Zedekiah did what was evil in the LORD’s sight just as Jehoiakim had done.

American Standard Version
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Contemporary English Version
Zedekiah disobeyed the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

English Revised Version
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zedekiah did what the LORD considered evil, as Jehoiakim had done.

Good News Translation
King Zedekiah sinned against the LORD, just as King Jehoiakim had done.

International Standard Version
Zedekiah practiced what the LORD considered to be evil, just as Jehoiakim had done,

NET Bible
He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Jehoiakim had done.

New Heart English Bible
He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

World English Bible
He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he does evil in the eyes of YHWH according to all that Jehoiakim did,

Berean Literal Bible
And He did evil in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Young's Literal Translation
and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah according to all that Jehoiakim did,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will do evil in the eyes of Jehovah according to all which Jehoiakim did.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that Joakim had done.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he did evil before the Lord, in accord with all that Jehoiakim had done.

New American Bible
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

New Revised Standard Version
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he did evil before LORD JEHOVAH as did Yoiqim.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Joachim did.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Zedekiah Reigns in Judah
18Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 19And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. 20For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.…

Cross References
And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD,

Jeremiah 52:2
And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.

2 Chronicles 36:12
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.
just as Jehoiakim had done.

2 Chronicles 36:5
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

2 Kings 23:37
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done.

Jeremiah 22:13-19
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. …
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

Ezekiel 21:25-27
And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. / A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’

Jeremiah 22:24-30
“As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off. / In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans. / I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born—and there you both will die. …

Matthew 1:11-12
and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. / After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Jeremiah 24:8-10
But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt. / I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them. / And I will send against them sword and famine and plague, until they have perished from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’”

Ezekiel 17:19-21
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke. / I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me. / All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

Jeremiah 37:1-2
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah the king of Judah, and he reigned in place of Coniah son of Jehoiakim. / But he and his officers and the people of the land refused to obey the words that the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:16-19
this is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile— / this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. / I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. …

Jeremiah 34:2-3
The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. / And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon.

Ezekiel 19:5-9
When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. / He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men. / He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring. …

Matthew 1:17
In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

And he did.

2 Kings 23:37
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

2 Chronicles 36:12
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 24:8
And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

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2 Kings 24
1. Jehoiakim, first subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, then rebelling against him,
2. procures his own ruin.
5. Jehoiachin succeeds him.
7. The king of Egypt is vanquished by the king of Babylon.
8. Jehoiachin's evil reign.
10. Jerusalem is taken and carried captive into Babylon.
17. Zedekiah is made king, and reigns ill, unto the utter destruction of Judah.












And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD,

Zedekiah, originally named Mattaniah, was Judah’s last king before Jerusalem fell to Babylon. He continued the idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness that had weakened the nation spiritually and politically. Though Jeremiah warned him to submit to Babylon as God’s appointed judgment, Zedekiah resisted those warnings.

Jer 52:2 And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD,…
2Ch 36:12 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God…

just as Jehoiakim had done.

Jehoiakim, Zedekiah’s brother, had also rejected God’s word and led Judah in rebellion. Their shared disobedience reflected the continuing corruption of Judah’s leadership and contributed to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people.

2Ch 36:5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king…
2Ki 23:37 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD,…
Jer 22:13-19 Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zedekiah
The last king of Judah, who reigned during a tumultuous period leading to the Babylonian exile. His reign was marked by rebellion against Babylon and a failure to heed prophetic warnings.

2. Hamutal
Zedekiah's mother, mentioned to provide lineage and context. Her mention highlights the familial connections within the royal house of Judah.

3. Jeremiah
Not the prophet, but Zedekiah's maternal grandfather, indicating the familial ties within the account.

4. Libnah
A town in Judah, providing geographical context and emphasizing the local roots of Zedekiah's family.

5. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, where Zedekiah reigned. It was the center of political and religious life and the focal point of the Babylonian conquest.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
Zedekiah's reign serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring God's warnings through His prophets. His failure to listen led to the downfall of Jerusalem.

The Importance of Godly Leadership
Zedekiah's lack of faithfulness underscores the need for leaders who seek God's guidance and adhere to His commandments.

Family and Influence
The mention of Zedekiah's mother and grandfather reminds us of the influence family can have on one's spiritual and moral decisions.

The Role of Prophets
The account of Zedekiah is intertwined with the prophetic messages of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, illustrating the critical role prophets play in guiding and warning God's people.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Despite the chaos and destruction during Zedekiah's reign, God's sovereign plan was at work, reminding us to trust in His ultimate control over history.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 24:19?

2. How did Zedekiah's actions in 2 Kings 24:19 displease the Lord?

3. What can we learn from Zedekiah's failure to follow God's commands?

4. How does Zedekiah's reign compare to other kings in Judah's history?

5. What consequences did Judah face due to Zedekiah's evil actions?

6. How can we ensure our leadership aligns with God's will today?

7. Why did Jehoiachin continue the evil practices of his predecessors in 2 Kings 24:19?

8. How does 2 Kings 24:19 reflect on the leadership qualities expected by God?

9. What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Kings 24:19?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 24?


THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH, the last KING OF JUDAH (2Kings 24:17 to 2Kings 25:7; comp. 2Chronicles 36:11 seq.; Jeremiah 52).

This section and the parallel in Jeremiah appear to have been derived from the same historical work. The text of Jeremiah is generally, though not always, the best.

(19) And he did that which was evil . . .--The evidence of the prophet Jeremiah should be compared with this statement. (See especially Jeremiah 24:8; Jeremiah 37:1-2; Jeremiah 38:5, and Comp. Note on 2Chronicles 36:13.) The contemporary state of religion is vividly reflected in the pages of Ezekiel (2Kings viii--11); who, moreover, denounces Zedekiah's breach of faith with the king of Babylon (Ezekiel 17:11-21). . . .

Verse 19. - And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. Keil says, "His attitude towards the Lord exactly resembled that of his brother Jehoiakim, except that Zedekiah does not appear to have possessed so much energy for that which was evil." He allowed the people to continue their "pollutions" and" abominations" (2 Chronicles 36:14). He let the "princes" have their way, and do whatever they pleased (Jeremiah 38:5), contenting himself with sometimes outwitting them, and counteracting their proceeding (Jeremiah 38:14-28). He fell into the old error of "putting trust in Egypt" (Jeremiah 37:5-7), and made an alliance with Apries (Pharaoh-Hophra), which was an act of rebellion, at once against God and against his Babylonian suzerain. He was, upon the whole, rather weak than wicked; but his weakness was as ruinous to his country as active wickedness would have been.

2 Kings 24:19 diagnoses Zedekiah’s reign in one sentence: he followed the same sinful path as Jehoiakim, under the penetrating gaze of the LORD. The verse reminds us that God sees, evaluates, and ultimately judges rulers and nations. Imitating past sin guarantees repeating past consequences, while true humility and obedience remain the only way to avert disaster.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And [Zedekiah] did
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַ֖ע (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in the sight
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

just as
כְּכֹ֥ל (kə·ḵōl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Jehoiakim
יְהוֹיָקִֽים׃ (yə·hō·w·yā·qîm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3079: Jehoiakim -- 'the LORD raises up', three Israelites

had done.
עָשָׂ֖ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


Additonal Resources
2 Kings 24:19 Blue Letter Bible
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2 Kings 24:19 Bible.com

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OT History: 2 Kings 24:19 He did that which was evil (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)

2 Kings 24:18
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