Coni'ah, also known as Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, was a king of Judah who reigned for a brief period before the Babylonian exile. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah. Coni'ah was the son of Jehoiakim and the grandson of Josiah, one of the last kings of Judah before the Babylonian conquest.

Reign and Captivity

Coni'ah ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen, following the death of his father, Jehoiakim. His reign lasted for only three months and ten days. During this time, he continued the practices of his predecessors, which were displeasing to the Lord. The Bible records, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done" (2 Kings 24:9).

His short reign ended when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem. Coni'ah, along with his mother, servants, and officials, surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. Consequently, he was taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile for the people of Judah. The Bible states, "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. And Jehoiachin king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officials. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign" (2 Kings 24:11-12).

Prophetic Judgment

The prophet Jeremiah pronounced a significant judgment against Coni'ah, declaring that none of his descendants would prosper on the throne of David. Jeremiah 22:24-30 records this divine decree: "As surely as I live, declares the LORD, even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would still tear you off... Record this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime. For none of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah" .

This prophecy was fulfilled as Coni'ah's descendants did not return to rule Judah. However, it is important to note that the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew includes Jeconiah, indicating that while his line did not rule, it was preserved and ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah (Matthew 1:11-12).

Later Life and Release

After thirty-seven years in captivity, Coni'ah was released from prison by Evil-merodach, the king of Babylon, who showed him favor. He was given a place of honor above other captive kings and allowed to dine regularly at the king's table. The Bible recounts, "In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon" (2 Kings 25:27-28).

Coni'ah's life serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God, as well as the enduring hope found in God's redemptive plan through the lineage of David, culminating in Jesus Christ.Coni'ah (3 Occurrences)

Jeremiah 22:24
I live -- an affirmation of Jehovah, Though Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah Were a seal on My right hand, Surely thence I draw thee away,
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 22:28
A grief -- a despised broken thing -- is this man Coniah? A vessel in which there is no pleasure? Wherefore have they been cast up and down, He and his seed, Yea, they were cast on to a land that they knew not?
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 37:1
And reign doth king Zedekiah son of Josiah instead of Coniah son of Jehoiakim whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had caused to reign in the land of Judah,
(See RSV)

Coni'ah (3 Occurrences)
Coni'ah. Coniah, Coni'ah. Conies . Multi-Version Concordance Coni'ah
(3 Occurrences). Jeremiah 22:24 I live -- an affirmation of ...
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Conies (2 Occurrences)

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Coniah (3 Occurrences)

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