New International Version Zedekiah 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. New Living Translation Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. English Standard Version Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Berean Standard Bible Zedekiah 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. Berean Literal Bible Zedekiah was a son of twenty-one years in his reigning, and eleven years he reigned in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. King James Bible Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. New King James Version Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. New American Standard Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. NASB 1995 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. NASB 1977 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Legacy Standard Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Amplified Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Berean Annotated Bible Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal (father-in-law is protection) daughter of Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed); she was from Libnah (pavement). Christian Standard Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. Holman Christian Standard Bible Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. American Standard Version Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Contemporary English Version Zedekiah was 21 years old when he was appointed king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother Hamutal was the daughter of Jeremiah from the town of Libnah. English Revised Version Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. GOD'S WORD® Translation Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. Good News Translation Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of the Jeremiah who lived in the city of Libnah. International Standard Version Zedekiah was 21 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. NET Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. New Heart English Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Webster's Bible Translation Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleZedekiah 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. World English Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign. He reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionZedekiah [is] a son of twenty-one years in his reigning, and he has reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother [is] Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Berean Literal Bible Zedekiah was a son of twenty-one years in his reigning, and eleven years he reigned in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Young's Literal Translation A son of twenty and one years is Zedekiah in his reigning, and eleven years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Smith's Literal Translation The son of twenty and one years was Zedekiah in his reigning, and eleven years he reigned in Jerusalem. And his mother's name Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and the name of his mother was Amital, the daughter of Jerernias of Lobna. Catholic Public Domain Version Zedekiah was a son of twenty-one years when he first began to reign. And he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. New American Bible Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. New Revised Standard Version Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleZEDEKIAH was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Son of twenty and one years was Tsedeqia when he reigned, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Khamatul, daughter of Jeremiah, from Lebnah OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Brenton Septuagint Translation It was the twenty-first ear of Sedekias, when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Amitaal, the daughter of Jeremias, of Lobena. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted1Zedekiah 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. 2And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.… Cross References Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, 2 Kings 24:18 Zedekiah 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. 2 Chronicles 36:11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 2 Kings 25:2 And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. 2 Chronicles 36:17 So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah 39:2 And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 2 Chronicles 36:2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. she was from Libnah. Joshua 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Joshua 21:13 So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, 2 Kings 8:22 So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time. Jeremiah 39:1-10 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. / And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. / Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. … Ezekiel 17:12-21 “Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon. / He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, / so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant. … Lamentations 4:20 The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.” Jeremiah 21:1-10 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said, / “Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.” / But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that … Jeremiah 34:1-7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, all the earthly kingdoms under his control, and all the other nations were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding cities. / 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. … Jeremiah 37:1-10 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. / Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!” … Treasury of Scripture Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. A. 2 Kings 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 Chronicles 36:11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. begin to reign [heb] reigned Joshua 10:29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: Joshua 15:42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, Jump to Previous Daughter Eleven Hamutal Hamu'tal Jeremiah Jerusalem Libnah Mother Mother's Reign Reigned Reigning Twenty Twenty-One Zedekiah Zedeki'ahJump to Next Daughter Eleven Hamutal Hamu'tal Jeremiah Jerusalem Libnah Mother Mother's Reign Reigned Reigning Twenty Twenty-One Zedekiah Zedeki'ahJeremiah 52 1. Zedekiah rebels4. Jerusalem is besieged and taken 8. Zedekiah's sons killed, and his own eyes put out, 12. Nebuzaradan burns and spoils the city 24. He carries away the captives 28. The number of Jews carried captive 31. Evil-Merodach advances Jehoiachin Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah, formerly called Mattaniah, to rule Judah after carrying King Jehoiachin into exile (2 Kings 24:17). Though young, Zedekiah belonged to David’s royal line and bore the weight of a collapsing kingdom. His position under Babylonian authority exposed Judah’s loss of independence, yet he remained responsible before God for his own choices. 2Ki 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king… and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. Zedekiah ruled from 597 to 586 BC, during Judah’s final years before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. He repeatedly rejected Jeremiah’s counsel to submit to Babylon as God’s appointed instrument of judgment. His rebellion brought Nebuchadnezzar’s army against the city, ending in the fall of Jerusalem, the burning of the temple, and the exile of the remaining people. 2Ki 25:2 And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah… His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; Hamutal was also the mother of Jehoahaz, making Zedekiah part of a royal family whose sons witnessed Judah’s rapid decline. Her father Jeremiah was from Libnah and must not be identified with the prophet Jeremiah. The record of Zedekiah’s family preserves the historical continuity of David’s house even as its throne was about to fall. 2Ki 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king,… she was from Libnah. Libnah lay in the lowland region of Judah and had earlier revolted against Judah’s rule during a season of national unfaithfulness (2 Kings 8:22). Zedekiah’s family connections within Judah underscore that the coming judgment reached every level of the nation. Jerusalem’s destruction did not nullify God’s covenant promises; it prepared the way for the promised restoration and the ultimate reign of David’s greater Son. Jos 15:42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, Persons / Places / Events 1. ZedekiahThe last king of Judah, who reigned during the final years before the Babylonian exile. His reign was marked by political instability and disobedience to God. 2. Jerusalem The capital city of Judah, which was the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. It was besieged and eventually destroyed by the Babylonians during Zedekiah's reign. 3. Hamutal Zedekiah's mother, identified as the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. Her mention highlights the familial connections and lineage of the king. 4. Jeremiah (Hamutal's father) Not to be confused with the prophet Jeremiah, this Jeremiah is noted as Hamutal's father, indicating the importance of family lineage in the account. 5. Libnah A town in Judah, indicating the geographical and tribal affiliations of Zedekiah's family. Teaching Points The Importance of ObedienceZedekiah's reign serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience to God. His failure to heed prophetic warnings led to the downfall of Jerusalem. Leadership and Responsibility As a leader, Zedekiah's actions had profound effects on his people. This underscores the responsibility leaders have to seek God's guidance and lead with integrity. The Role of Family and Heritage The mention of Zedekiah's mother and her lineage reminds us of the influence of family and heritage in shaping one's identity and decisions. The Consequences of Rebellion Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon, despite prophetic counsel, illustrates the dangers of pride and the importance of submitting to God's will. God's Sovereignty in Judgment The events of Zedekiah's reign demonstrate God's sovereignty in using nations and leaders to fulfill His purposes, even in judgment. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 52:1?2. How does Zedekiah's reign reflect the consequences of disobedience to God's commands? 3. What lessons can we learn from Zedekiah's leadership in Jeremiah 52:1? 4. How does Zedekiah's age and reign duration relate to God's patience with leaders? 5. Compare Zedekiah's reign with other kings who "did evil" in God's sight. 6. How can we apply the lessons from Zedekiah's reign to modern leadership? 7. Why did Zedekiah rebel against Nebuchadnezzar despite knowing the consequences? 8. How does Jeremiah 52:1 reflect God's judgment on disobedience? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Jeremiah 52:1? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 52? What Does Jeremiah 52:1 Mean Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king• At twenty-one, Zedekiah was still in the formative stage of adulthood. Scripture repeatedly notes the age of kings (2 Kings 24:18; 2 Chronicles 36:11) to help us grasp the maturity—or lack of it—behind their early decisions. • Being appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after the deportation of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:17) meant Zedekiah stepped into a throne already under foreign control. The verse reminds us that God’s Word records these details to show how Judah’s leadership had shifted into dependence on Babylon, fulfilling warnings like Jeremiah 25:8-9. • His youth combined with the political pressure of Babylon set the stage for the spiritual compromises that followed (Jeremiah 38:19-20). and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years • Eleven years (597-586 BC) sounds substantial, yet compared with the forty-year reign of his father Josiah (2 Kings 22:1) it was brief—a marker of instability and divine judgment (Jeremiah 24:8-10). • Those years ended in Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah 52:12-14), affirming the prophetic timeline God had declared through Jeremiah 25:11: “This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years”. • The location “in Jerusalem” stresses that the covenant city itself was no shield when its king rejected the Lord’s word (2 Chronicles 36:12-16). His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah • Scripture often names a king’s mother to trace covenant faithfulness or lack thereof (1 Kings 15:2; 2 Kings 14:2). With Hamutal, the same mother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31), we see a family line linked to two sons who both faltered spiritually, contrasting sharply with their godly grandfather Josiah (2 Kings 23:25). • The mention of “Jeremiah” here is not the prophet but Hamutal’s father, underscoring that identical names can appear in different family trees while the biblical record remains precise (cf. Jeremiah 35:3). • A king’s maternal influence was significant; yet even if Hamutal followed Josiah’s piety, her sons still chose rebellion, echoing Ezekiel 18:20 on personal responsibility. she was from Libnah • Libnah, a Levitical town in Judah (Joshua 21:13; 2 Kings 8:22), reminds us that Zedekiah’s heritage included priestly associations. Levitical roots should have directed him toward covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 33:8-10), but he chose otherwise. • Libnah’s earlier revolt against Judah in Joram’s day (2 Kings 8:22) pictures a city familiar with resisting ungodly rule—yet another historical echo that obedience to God, not political maneuvering, secures blessing. • By locating Hamutal in Libnah, Jeremiah 52:1 anchors the narrative in literal geography, reinforcing the historical reliability of the account. summary Jeremiah 52:1 compresses four factual statements: Zedekiah’s youth, his eleven-year reign under Babylonian shadow, his maternal lineage, and that lineage’s roots in Libnah. Each detail highlights God’s sovereign oversight of Judah’s history: youthful inexperience met foreign dominance, a short reign culminated in prophesied judgment, familial heritage revealed the tug-of-war between covenant privilege and personal rebellion, and the geographic note affirmed the concrete reality of these events. Taken together, the verse sets the stage for the chapter’s sober record of Jerusalem’s fall, underscoring that God’s word is both historically precise and spiritually instructive. Hebrew Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6667: Zedekiah -- 'Yah is righteousness', six Israelites was twenty-one עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (‘eś·rîm) Number - common plural Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth years שָׁנָה֙ (šā·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8141: A year old בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son when he became king, בְמָלְכ֔וֹ (ḇə·mā·lə·ḵōw) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel and he reigned מָלַ֖ךְ (mā·laḵ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel in Jerusalem בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (bî·rū·šā·lim) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel eleven וְאַחַ֤ת (wə·’a·ḥaṯ) Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct Strong's 259: United, one, first years. שָׁנָ֔ה (šā·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8141: A year His mother’s אִמּ֔וֹ (’im·mōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 517: A mother, ) name וְשֵׁ֣ם (wə·šêm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8034: A name was Hamutal חֲמוּטַ֥ל (ḥă·mū·ṭal) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 2537: Hamutal -- perhaps 'my husband's father is the dew', mother of two kings of Judah daughter בַּֽת־ (baṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1323: A daughter of Jeremiah; יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3414: Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites she was from Libnah. מִלִּבְנָֽה׃ (mil·liḇ·nāh) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3841: Libnah -- a city in soutwest Judah, also a place in the wilderness Additonal Resources Jeremiah 52:1 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 52:1 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 52:1 Bible.com Jeremiah 52:1 NIV |
    |