471. Elyaqim

Lexical Summary

Elyaqim: Eliakim

Original Word: אֶלְיָקִים
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Elyaqiym'
Pronunciation: el-yaw-KEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (el-yaw-keem')
KJV: Eliakim
NASB: Eliakim
Word Origin: [from H410 (אֵל - God) and H6965 (קוּם - arose)]

1. God of raising
2. Eljakim, the name of four Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Eliakim

From 'el and quwm; God of raising; Eljakim, the name of four Israelites -- Eliakim.

see HEBREW 'el

see HEBREW quwm

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from el and qum
Definition
"God sets up," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Eliakim (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֶלְיָקִים proper name, masculine (God sets up, compare Sabean הקמאל, יקמאל Hal⁶¹⁵)

a. Hezekiah's prefect of the palace 2 Kings 18:18,26,37; 2 Kings 19:2; Isaiah 22:20; Isaiah 36:3,11,22; Isaiah 37:2.

b. son of Josiah, made king by Pharaoh 2 Kings 23:34; 2Chronicles 36:4; = יְהוֺיָקִים 2 Kings 24:1; Jeremiah 1:3; 1 Chronicles 3:15.

c. a priest Nehemiah 12:41.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Core Idea

Eliakim (“God will establish”) stands in Scripture as a testimony to Yahweh’s sovereign appointment of leaders for His people, whether in the palace, on the throne, or in the priesthood.

Occurrences Overview

Twelve verses record three distinct men named Eliakim:

1. Eliakim son of Hilkiah, overseer of King Hezekiah’s palace (2 Kings 18–19; Isaiah 36–37; cf. Isaiah 22:20).
2. Eliakim son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh Neco renamed Jehoiakim and set on Judah’s throne (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4).
3. Eliakim the priest who joined Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s dedication procession (Nehemiah 12:41).

Eliakim son of Hilkiah — Royal Steward under Hezekiah

• Position: “over the household” (2 Kings 18:18), equivalent to chief of staff or palace administrator.
• Crisis Ministry: During Sennacherib’s invasion, Eliakim stood in the gap between an anxious king and the enemy’s field commander. He is repeatedly named first in the delegation (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2; Isaiah 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2), underscoring his authority.
• Humble Intercession: “They came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh” (2 Kings 18:37). Tearing his garments signified grief and dependence on God—modeling leadership that seeks divine help in national distress.
• Loyal Messenger: He faithfully conveyed Isaiah’s word from the Lord back to the king, facilitating Judah’s deliverance (2 Kings 19:20-34).
• Moral Contrast: The regal pride of Shebna, the displaced steward in Isaiah 22, heightens Eliakim’s integrity as the one God raises up.

Prophetic Significance — Isaiah 22:20-24

Isaiah foretells: “In that day I will summon My servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe… and place the key of the house of David on his shoulder” (Isaiah 22:20-22).
• Divine Appointment: God Himself “summons” and “clothes” Eliakim, showing that true authority is delegated from heaven.
• The Key Symbol: Signifying power to open and shut palace access, it anticipates Messiah’s messianic key of David (Revelation 3:7).
• Secure Peg: “He will become a throne of glory for the house of his father” (Isaiah 22:23). While rooted in a historical figure, the language foreshadows the permanence and reliability found ultimately in Christ, the perfect steward of God’s household (Hebrews 3:6).
• Yet Human Limits: The peg “will be removed” (Isaiah 22:25) reminds readers that even faithful servants remain finite, directing eyes to the greater Son of David.

Eliakim son of Josiah — From Prince to Puppet King

• Political Setting: After Josiah’s death (609 B.C.), Pharaoh Neco installed Josiah’s son Eliakim as king, changing his name to Jehoiakim (“Yahweh raises up”).
• Scriptural Record: 2 Kings 23:34 and 2 Chronicles 36:4 preserve his original name, emphasizing the external manipulation of Judah’s sovereignty.
• Spiritual Downfall: Though bearing a name that means “God will establish,” Jehoiakim practiced evil (2 Kings 23:37). His life warns that a godly family legacy and a meaningful name cannot substitute for personal obedience.

Eliakim the Post-Exilic Priest

• Context: At Jerusalem’s wall dedication, “and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly under the direction of Jezrahiah” (Nehemiah 12:41-42).
• Ministry Role: Sharing his name with heroes of earlier centuries, this Eliakim joined the restored worship of a nation reborn from exile, illustrating God’s continued work of “establishing” His people.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty in Leadership: Each Eliakim rises or falls according to God’s purpose—He establishes (Proverbs 8:15).
2. Stewardship and Accountability: The key placed on Eliakim’s shoulder in Isaiah 22 prefigures Christ and teaches that human stewards must exercise delegated authority faithfully (1 Corinthians 4:2).
3. Name and Character: A God-honoring name is no guarantee of faithfulness (contrast Eliakim the steward with Eliakim/Jehoiakim the king).
4. Typology of Christ: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, as a secure peg bearing the key of David, provides a shadow of the ultimate Servant-King who controls entrance to the Kingdom (John 10:9).

Practical Reflections

• Faithful Service in Secular Posts: Eliakim thrived spiritually while navigating palace politics, encouraging believers serving in public spheres to prioritize integrity and prayer.
• Crisis Leadership: Hezekiah’s steward models calm, humble action amid intimidation, pointing to dependence on godly counsel and prophetic truth.
• Worship Restoration: The post-exilic priest reminds congregations that God continues to raise up servants to rebuild and rejoice, no matter past failures.

Summary

Across varying centuries and roles, the name Eliakim highlights God’s unwavering rule: He alone establishes rulers, upholds faithful stewards, judges unfaithfulness, and sustains worship among His people—ultimately centering all authority in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true possessor of the key of David.

Forms and Transliterations

אֶלְיָקִ֡ים אֶלְיָקִ֣ים אֶלְיָקִ֥ים אֶלְיָקִ֨ים אֶלְיָקִים֩ אליקים לְאֶלְיָקִ֖ים לאליקים ’el·yā·qîm ’elyāqîm elyaKim lə’elyāqîm lə·’el·yā·qîm leelyaKim

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 18:18
HEB: וַיֵּצֵ֧א אֲלֵהֶ֛ם אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ
NAS: to the king, Eliakim the son
KJV: there came out to them Eliakim the son
INT: came about Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

2 Kings 18:26
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ
NAS: Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
KJV: Then said Eliakim the son
INT: said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

2 Kings 18:37
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֣ה
NAS: Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
KJV: Then came Eliakim the son
INT: came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

2 Kings 19:2
HEB: וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח אֶת־ אֶלְיָקִ֨ים אֲשֶׁר־ עַל־
NAS: Then he sent Eliakim who was over
KJV: And he sent Eliakim, which [was] over the household,
INT: sent Eliakim who was over

2 Kings 23:34
HEB: נְכֹ֜ה אֶת־ אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ יֹאשִׁיָּ֗הוּ
NAS: made Eliakim the son
KJV: And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son
INT: made Pharaoh Eliakim the son of Josiah

2 Chronicles 36:4
HEB: מִצְרַ֜יִם אֶת־ אֶלְיָקִ֣ים אָחִ֗יו עַל־
NAS: of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king
KJV: of Egypt made Eliakim his brother
INT: the king of Egypt Eliakim his brother over

Nehemiah 12:41
HEB: וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים אֶלְיָקִ֡ים מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה מִ֠נְיָמִין
NAS: and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,
KJV: And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah,
INT: and the priests Eliakim Maaseiah Miniamin

Isaiah 22:20
HEB: וְקָרָ֣אתִי לְעַבְדִּ֔י לְאֶלְיָקִ֖ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּֽהוּ׃
NAS: My servant Eliakim the son
KJV: my servant Eliakim the son
INT: will summon my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

Isaiah 36:3
HEB: וַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵלָ֛יו אֶלְיָקִ֥ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֖הוּ
NAS: Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
KJV: Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's
INT: came then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

Isaiah 36:11
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִים֩ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨א וְיוֹאָ֜ח
NAS: Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah
KJV: Then said Eliakim and Shebna
INT: said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah

Isaiah 36:22
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ
NAS: Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
KJV: Then came Eliakim, the son
INT: came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah

Isaiah 37:2
HEB: וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח אֶת־ אֶלְיָקִ֨ים אֲשֶׁר־ עַל־
NAS: Then he sent Eliakim who was over
KJV: And he sent Eliakim, who [was] over the household,
INT: sent Eliakim who was over

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 471
12 Occurrences

’el·yā·qîm — 11 Occ.
lə·’el·yā·qîm — 1 Occ.