Lexical Summary Meshullemeth: Meshullemeth Original Word: מְשֻׁלֶּמֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Meshullemeth Feminine of Mshullam; Meshullemeth, an Israelitess -- Meshullemeth. see HEBREW Mshullam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shalem Definition mother of King Amon NASB Translation Meshullemeth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְשֻׁלֶּ֫מֶת proper name, feminine mother of king Amon 2 Kings 21:9 Μεσολλαμ, A Μασσαλαμειθ. Topical Lexicon Identity and Biblical Reference Meshullemeth is mentioned once, in 2 Kings 21:19: “Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah.” She is the mother of Amon and therefore grandmother of Josiah. Her father, Haruz, hailed from Jotbah. Historical Setting Her lifetime bridges the reigns of Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Amon, roughly the late seventh century B.C.—a period marked by Hezekiah’s reform, Manasseh’s apostasy and later repentance, and Amon’s brief, evil reign. Judah oscillated between covenant faithfulness and idolatry, setting the stage for Josiah’s later reforms. Queen-Mother Status In Judah the king’s mother (Hebrew gebirah) held recognized authority (1 Kings 15:13; Jeremiah 13:18). Although Scripture records no personal acts of Meshullemeth, her official position placed her near the center of political and spiritual decision-making. Whether she counseled Amon toward or away from idolatry is unstated, but her role underscores the influence a queen mother could wield. Jotbah and Political Alliance Identifying her as “from Jotbah” may hint at a marriage intended to strengthen regional or tribal alliances. Jotbah’s exact location is uncertain—either in Judah’s lowlands or east of the Jordan—yet the notation shows that royal marriages served diplomatic as well as familial interests. Spiritual Climate and Generational Impact Amon “did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done” (2 Kings 21:20). Meshullemeth’s mention in this context highlights the fragile transmission of faith across generations. Her lineage, however, produced Josiah, whose zeal for covenant fidelity delayed national judgment (2 Kings 22:19-20). The contrast between Amon and Josiah illustrates both the peril of neglecting spiritual formation and the potential for renewal in the next generation. Theological Reflections • God records even seemingly minor figures, affirming the value of every participant in redemptive history. Ministry Applications • Faith must be intentionally taught; heritage alone does not secure covenant loyalty. Key Reference Related Topics Queen Mothers of Judah; Amon; Manasseh; Josiah; Generational Discipleship; Royal Marriage Alliances Forms and Transliterations מְשֻׁלֶּ֥מֶת משלמת mə·šul·le·meṯ meshulLemet məšullemeṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 21:19 HEB: וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ מְשֻׁלֶּ֥מֶת בַּת־ חָר֖וּץ NAS: name [was] Meshullemeth the daughter KJV: name [was] Meshullemeth, the daughter INT: name and his mother's Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz 1 Occurrence |
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