Zedekiah צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ
Official during the reign of King Jehoiakim
Who is Zedekiah in the Bible?
Zedekiah, son of Hananiah, was an official serving King Jehoiakim of Judah during the late 7th century BC. He appears in Jeremiah 36:12 as one of several palace officials who were present when the prophet Jeremiah's written prophecies were read aloud in the royal court. After hearing the scroll's contents, Zedekiah and his fellow officials recognized the danger these words posed to the king and advised Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, to hide himself and the prophet. His role in this pivotal moment demonstrates the internal divisions within Judah's leadership, as some officials showed concern for the prophet's safety even while the king himself would ultimately seek to suppress Jeremiah's message.
Biography
Zedekiah, the son of Hananiah, was an official during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. He is mentioned in the context of the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies, which was read before the king. When the scroll was read in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, Zedekiah was among the officials present, along with Elishama, Delaiah, Elnathan, Gemariah, and others. After hearing the words of the scroll, the officials advised Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, to hide along with Jeremiah. They then reported the matter to the king.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 36:12
"he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials."
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ | ṣidĕqiyāh | Tsidkijah , the name of six Israelites |