Zibiah צִבְיָה
Mother of King Joash (or 'Jehoash') of Judah from Beersheba
Who is Zibiah in the Bible?
Zibiah was the mother of King Joash (also called Jehoash) of Judah, a woman from Beersheba mentioned in 2 Kings 12:1 and 2 Chronicles 24:1. She appears in the biblical record solely in connection with her son's royal lineage, with no additional details provided about her own life or activities. Her name means "gazelle" in Hebrew, possibly alluding to beauty or grace. Joash ascended to the throne at just seven years old and ruled for forty years in Jerusalem, making Zibiah the mother of one of Judah's longest-reigning monarchs, though her own role in his reign remains largely unrecorded in Scripture.
Biography
Zibiah was the mother of King Joash (or 'Jehoash') of Judah. She was from Beersheba, a town in the southern part of Judah. Zibiah is mentioned only in connection with her son's accession to the throne, and no other details about her life are provided in the Bible. The fact that she was from Beersheba suggests that the king of Judah may have been seeking to consolidate control over the southern region through this marriage alliance. Zibiah's name means "gazelle" in Hebrew, which may have been a reference to her beauty or grace. Her son, Jehoash, became king at the age of seven and reigned for forty years in Jerusalem.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Kings 1 verse
- 2 Kings 12:1
"In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 24:1
"Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צִבְיָה |