Lexical Summary Konyahu: Coniah Original Word: כָּנְיָהוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Coniah For Ykonyah; Conjah, an Israelite king -- Coniah. see HEBREW Ykonyah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as Yehoyakin, q.v. Topical Lexicon Name and Identity Coniah, also called Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, was the penultimate king of Judah and the last in the direct line of Solomon to reign from Jerusalem. He was the son of Jehoiakim and the grandson of Josiah. His brief reign (circa 598–597 BC) ended when Nebuchadnezzar II exiled him to Babylon. The form of the name recorded three times in Jeremiah is Coniah, a shortened variant that appears in prophetic oracles of judgment. Occurrences of the Name Jeremiah 22:24, Jeremiah 22:28, and Jeremiah 37:1 employ the shortened form Coniah. All three texts frame him within the context of divine judgment and the Babylonian crisis. Historical Setting After Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Upon Jehoiakim’s death, the eighteen-year-old Coniah reigned for three months (2 Kings 24:8). Babylonian forces soon captured the city, and Coniah surrendered, along with the royal household and temple treasures (2 Kings 24:10–15). He was carried to Babylon with the leading citizens of Judah, fulfilling Jeremiah’s warnings that unrepentant rebellion would lead to exile (Jeremiah 22:25–27). Prophetic Pronouncements Jeremiah 22 contains the most solemn oracle concerning Coniah: “‘As surely as I live,’ declares the LORD, ‘even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were the signet ring on My right hand, I would tear you off.’” (Jeremiah 22:24) The passage climaxes with, “Write this man childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.” (Jeremiah 22:30) The language of being cast off as a signet ring emphasizes the severing of royal authority. Yet Jeremiah later speaks of a future “righteous Branch” from David’s line who will reign wisely (Jeremiah 23:5–6), indicating that God’s covenant with David is not nullified but redirected. Jeconiah and the Messianic Line 1 Chronicles 3:17–18 and Matthew 1:11 record Jeconiah’s descendants, demonstrating that exile did not eradicate the Davidic lineage. Zerubbabel, governor of the post-exilic community, descended from him (Haggai 1:1). While Jeremiah declared that none of Coniah’s direct sons would rule “in Judah,” the larger family line endured, and the legal genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew traces through Jeconiah. Luke’s genealogy traces through Nathan rather than Solomon, preserving a physical descent that bypasses the curse. Thus, the New Testament presents Jesus as the rightful Davidic king while respecting Jeremiah’s oracle regarding Coniah’s immediate royal descendants. Later Fortune in Exile Thirty-seven years into captivity, Evil-merodach released Jehoiachin from prison and granted him a place at the royal table (2 Kings 25:27–30). Although the prophetic sentence against his dynasty remained, this act signaled divine mercy and maintained hope for Judah’s restoration. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Justice and Mercy: Coniah’s fate illustrates that privilege does not shield unfaithfulness from judgment, yet grace can still follow judgment. Ministry Applications • Personal status never guarantees divine favor; genuine obedience does. Key References Jeremiah 22:24–30; Jeremiah 37:1; 2 Kings 24:8–17; 2 Kings 25:27–30; 2 Chronicles 36:8–10; 1 Chronicles 3:16–19; Matthew 1:11–12; Luke 3:27; Haggai 1:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6. Forms and Transliterations כָּנְיָ֔הוּ כָּנְיָ֙הוּ֙ כָּנְיָ֤הוּ כניהו kā·nə·yā·hū kaneYahu kānəyāhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 22:24 HEB: אִם־ יִהְיֶ֞ה כָּנְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־ יְהֽוֹיָקִים֙ KJV: the LORD, though Coniah the son INT: though become Coniah the son of Jehoiakim Jeremiah 22:28 Jeremiah 37:1 3 Occurrences |
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