Zedekiah, Last King of Judah
Who was Zedekiah in the Bible?
The final king of the Kingdom of Judah who reigned during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem and oversaw the city's eventual destruction.
This is one of 6 people named Zedekiah in the Bible. See all 6 →
Zedekiah was the twentieth and final king of Judah, reigning for eleven years before the kingdom's complete collapse and the subsequent Babylonian Exile. Born with the name Mattaniah, he was the son of the righteous King Josiah and his wife Hamutal. His ascension to the throne in 597 BC was not a matter of natural succession but was mandated by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, who deposed Zedekiah’s nephew, Jehoiachin, and installed Zedekiah as a puppet ruler.
His reign was characterized by political instability, spiritual compromise, and a volatile relationship with the prophet Jeremiah. Despite numerous warnings from God to submit to Babylonian rule as a form of divine discipline, Zedekiah ultimately succumbed to the pressure of his pro-Egyptian officials and rebelled. This decision led to a catastrophic eighteen-month siege of Jerusalem, resulting in the total destruction of the Solomonic Temple and the brutal end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem.
Background and Family
Zedekiah was born into the Davidic line during one of the most turbulent periods of Near Eastern history. He was the third son of King Josiah, the great reformer (1 Chronicles 3:15). His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, making him a full brother to King Jehoahaz and a half-brother to King Jehoiakim.
His path to the throne was unconventional. Following the short and disastrous reigns of his brothers and his nephew Jehoiachin, the Babylonian Empire asserted its dominance over the Levant. In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem and carried Jehoiachin into exile. The Babylonian monarch then selected Mattaniah, who was twenty-one years old at the time, to serve as a vassal king. To signify his authority over the new ruler, Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah’s name to Zedekiah, which means 'Yahweh is my righteousness' (2 Kings 24:17-18).
Major Life Events
Zedekiah’s eleven-year reign (c. 597–586 BC) was a period of constant tension between the word of God and political expediency. Early in his reign, Jeremiah the prophet advised him to submit to the 'yoke' of Babylon to ensure the survival of the city (Jeremiah 27:12). However, Zedekiah was a weak leader, often swayed by the Judean nobility who advocated for an alliance with Egypt to break free from Babylonian hegemony.
In his ninth year, Zedekiah formally rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. In response, the Babylonian army marched on Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. The siege lasted for nearly two years, during which the city suffered from extreme famine and plague (Jeremiah 21:7). Throughout this crisis, Zedekiah frequently sought private counsel from Jeremiah, showing a measure of fear for God but an even greater fear of his own officials and the public (Jeremiah 38:19). Although Jeremiah repeatedly offered the king a chance to surrender and save his life and the city, Zedekiah remained paralyzed by indecision.
In 586 BC, the Babylonian army breached the walls of Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his soldiers attempted to escape by night through the king's garden, fleeing toward the Arabah. However, the Chaldean army pursued and overtook him in the plains of Jericho (2 Kings 25:4-5).
The Fall and Judgment
Zedekiah was captured and brought to Riblah in the land of Hamath to face Nebuchadnezzar. The judgment rendered was horrific: the Babylonians slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, ensuring he would have no immediate heir to the throne. Immediately following this, they put out Zedekiah’s eyes, blinding him so that the last thing he ever saw was the execution of his children (Jeremiah 52:10-11). He was bound in bronze shackles and taken to Babylon, where he remained in prison until the day of his death.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
The most significant relationship during Zedekiah’s reign was with the prophet Jeremiah. Their interactions reveal a king who was spiritually inquisitive but morally cowardly. Zedekiah protected Jeremiah from execution by the princes at one point (Jeremiah 37:21), yet he also allowed the prophet to be thrown into a cistern when the officials demanded it (Jeremiah 38:4-6).
Zedekiah was also connected to the wider geopolitics of the era, sending envoys to neighboring nations like Edom, Moab, and Ammon to discuss a coalition against Babylon (Jeremiah 27:3). These alliances ultimately proved fruitless, as the surrounding nations could not withstand the Babylonian onslaught.
Spiritual Significance
The life of Zedekiah serves as a sobering conclusion to the history of the kings of Judah. His failure was not merely political but deeply spiritual. The chronicler notes that he 'did evil in the sight of the LORD his God' and, most significantly, 'he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD' (2 Chronicles 36:12).
His reign demonstrates the consequences of ignoring divine warnings in favor of human alliances. The destruction of Jerusalem under his watch marked the end of the first Temple period and the beginning of the seventy-year Babylonian Exile. Despite his tragic end, the survival of the Davidic line through his exiled nephew Jehoiachin ensured that the messianic promise would continue beyond Zedekiah’s failure.
Theologically, Zedekiah represents the final rejection of the Mosaic Covenant by the Judean monarchy. His refusal to heed the specific, repeated prophecies of Jeremiah highlighted the hardness of heart that led to the exile. The horrific nature of his capture and blinding served as a literal fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy that he would be brought to Babylon but would not see it (Ezekiel 12:13).
Furthermore, Zedekiah's reign underscores the concept of divine sovereignty over earthly empires. The Bible presents Nebuchadnezzar not merely as a foreign invader, but as God's instrument of judgment. Zedekiah’s rebellion was therefore seen not just as a political act against Babylon, but as a rebellion against the decree of God, illustrating that spiritual obedience is the only true security for a nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Zedekiah's original name?
His original name was Mattaniah. It was changed to Zedekiah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when he was appointed as a vassal king.
Why did Nebuchadnezzar put out Zedekiah's eyes?
This was a common Ancient Near Eastern punishment for rebellion. By killing his sons first and then blinding him, the Babylonians ensured the last memory Zedekiah had was the end of his dynasty.
How long did Zedekiah reign over Judah?
Zedekiah reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem, from approximately 597 BC to 586 BC.
Did Zedekiah listen to the prophet Jeremiah?
While Zedekiah consulted Jeremiah privately and occasionally protected him, he ultimately refused to follow Jeremiah's advice to surrender to Babylon, fearing the reaction of his own people and officials.
Who was Zedekiah's father?
His father was King Josiah, one of the most famous and righteous kings of Judah.
Family & Relationships
Parents
Josiah, King of JudahFatherJeremiah 1:3Stated
HamutalMother2 Kings 24:18Inferred
No verse states this relationship in kinship terms; Hamutal and Zedekiah appear together in the cited verse.Evidence: 2 Kings 24:18
Zedekiah, Last King of JudahThis page
Jehoahaz, Son of JosiahBrother2 Kings 23:30Stated
JehoiakimBrother1 Chronicles 3:15Stated
Shallum, Son of JosiahBrother1 Chronicles 3:15Stated
Connected Figures
Family
Father · Jeremiah 1:3
A righteous king of the Divided Monarchy who initiated sweeping religious reforms and restored the temple and the Passover after the discovery of the Book of the Law.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 1 Kings 13:249 versesKing of JudahJudah
Mother · 2 Kings 24:18
The daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah, wife of King Josiah, and mother of two kings of Judah: Jehoahaz and Zedekiah.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 2 Kings 23:313 versesQueen Mother of Judah
Brother · 2 Kings 23:30
Jehoahaz was the seventeenth king of Judah, whose brief three-month reign in 609 BC ended when he was deposed and imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco II.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 2 Kings 23:306 versesKing of JudahJudah
Brother · 1 Chronicles 3:15
The second son of King Josiah who reigned over Judah for eleven years as a vassal to Egypt and later Babylon, known for his wickedness and opposition to the prophet Jeremiah.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 2 Kings 23:3437 versesKing of JudahJudah
Brother · 1 Chronicles 3:15
A prince of Judah and the fourth son of King Josiah, recorded in the royal genealogies of the Divided Monarchy.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 1 Chronicles 3:151 versesPrince of JudahJudah
Categories
Mentions by Book
- 2 Kings5
- 1 Chronicles1
- 2 Chronicles2
- Jeremiah45
Scripture References
All 53 indexed verses, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
- 2 Kings 24:17
Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
- 2 Kings 24:18
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.
- 2 Kings 24:20
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
- 2 Kings 25:2
And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.
- 2 Kings 25:7Partial
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
- 1 Chronicles 3:15
The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth.
- 2 Chronicles 36:10
In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 36:11
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years.
- Jeremiah 1:3
and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
- Jeremiah 21:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,
- Jeremiah 21:3
But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that
- Jeremiah 21:7
‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
- Jeremiah 24:8
But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.
- Jeremiah 27:3
Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.
- Jeremiah 27:12
And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live!
- Jeremiah 28:1
In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:
- Jeremiah 29:3
The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:
- Jeremiah 32:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.
- Jeremiah 32:3
For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying like this? You claim that the LORD says, ‘Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.
- Jeremiah 32:4
Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye.
- Jeremiah 32:5
He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will stay until I attend to him, declares the LORD. If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed.’”
- Jeremiah 34:2
The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
- Jeremiah 34:4
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;
- Jeremiah 34:6
In Jerusalem, then, Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah
- Jeremiah 34:8
After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD
- Jeremiah 34:21
And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.
- Jeremiah 37:1
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah the king of Judah, and he reigned in place of Coniah son of Jehoiakim.
- Jeremiah 37:3
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!”
- Jeremiah 37:17
Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
- Jeremiah 37:18
Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?
- Jeremiah 37:21
So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
- Jeremiah 38:5
“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”
- Jeremiah 38:14
Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD. “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.”
- Jeremiah 38:15
“If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”
- Jeremiah 38:16
But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”
- Jeremiah 38:17
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.
- Jeremiah 38:19
But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.”
- Jeremiah 38:24
Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die.
- Jeremiah 39:1
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city.
- Jeremiah 39:2
And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached.
- Jeremiah 39:4
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and they went out along the route to the Arabah.
- Jeremiah 39:5
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
- Jeremiah 39:6
There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the nobles of Judah.
- Jeremiah 39:7
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 44:30
This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”
- Jeremiah 49:34
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.
- Jeremiah 51:59
This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the quartermaster Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
- Jeremiah 52:1
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.
- Jeremiah 52:3
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
- Jeremiah 52:5
And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.
- Jeremiah 52:8
but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was separated from him.
- Jeremiah 52:10
There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah.
- Jeremiah 52:11
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.
Others Named Zedekiah
Compare all 6 bearers →Zedekiah, Son of Jehoiakim1 Chronicles 3:16
A descendant of the Davidic royal line listed in the genealogy of King Jehoiakim during the Divided Monarchy.
Zedekiah son of MaaseiahJeremiah 29:21
A false prophet during the Divided Monarchy who was executed by Nebuchadnezzar for prophesying lies to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
Zedekiah of the SealNehemiah 10:1
A prominent leader or official among the Judean returnees who co-signed Nehemiah’s covenant to faithfully observe the Law of God after the Babylonian exile.
Zedekiah son of Chenaanah1 Kings 22:11
A false prophet during the Divided Monarchy who used iron horns to symbolically predict victory for King Ahab of Israel before opposing the true prophet Micaiah.
Zedekiah son of HananiahJeremiah 36:12
A Judean official during the reign of King Jehoiakim who was present during the reading of Jeremiah’s scroll.