Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 CHRONICLES 25:1KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 25:1 mean?
2 Chronicles 25:1 states that Amaziah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five and ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. The verse also mentions his mother’s name, Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem.
This verse is a historical introduction, giving basic facts about Amaziah’s reign. The writer is recording the succession of kings in Judah, noting Amaziah’s age, the length of his rule, and his family background. Including his mother’s name was a common way to identify royal lineage and sometimes hinted at family influence or status.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 25:1
- "Amaziah" (אֲמַצְיָה, ’Amatsyah) means "Yahweh is mighty" or "strength of the LORD," which reflects the tradition of the kings’ names often carrying a meaning tied to God.
- "Reign" and "reigned" (מָלַךְ, malakh) both appear in this verse, emphasizing the official start and duration of Amaziah’s kingship.
- "Jehoaddan" (יְהוֹעַדָּן, Yeho‘addan) means "Yahweh delights" or "the LORD is pleased," which may suggest something about her character or the hopes for Amaziah’s reign.
Why 2 Chronicles 25:1 matters
- The verse sets the stage for the events that follow in Amaziah’s reign, giving readers a timeline and context for his actions as king.
- Mentioning Amaziah’s mother, Jehoaddan, highlights the importance of maternal lineage in the royal records, which sometimes affected a king’s legitimacy or alliances.
- The details here help distinguish Amaziah from other kings with similar names and clarify the historical sequence in Judah’s monarchy.