Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

2 KINGS 15:33KJV
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2 Kings 15:33 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 15:33 mean?

2 Kings 15:33 states that Jotham became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five and ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. The verse also names his mother as Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok, giving a bit of family background.

This verse is part of a historical account listing the kings of Judah. It gives basic facts about Jotham’s reign—his age when he started, how long he ruled, and his mother’s identity. Naming the mother and her family was a way to show the king’s lineage and sometimes to highlight connections to respected priestly or noble families.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 15:33

  • יְרוּשָׁה (Yerushah, "Jerusha"): This is the name of Jotham’s mother. Including her name and her father Zadok’s name may suggest her family’s importance or respected status.
  • בַּת (bat, "daughter"): This word shows the family connection, making it clear that Jerusha is the daughter of Zadok, not the wife.
  • יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yerushalayim, "Jerusalem"): The verse specifies that Jotham reigned in Jerusalem, emphasizing his rule over the southern kingdom of Judah and its capital.

Why 2 Kings 15:33 matters

  • This verse helps anchor Jotham’s reign in real history, giving specific ages and years that allow readers to track the timeline of Judah’s kings.
  • Naming Jerusha and her father Zadok may hint at the importance of family background in royal succession, possibly pointing to priestly or noble connections.
  • The details here set up the rest of Jotham’s story, providing context for the events and evaluations that follow in the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“Jerusha” Hebrew H3388 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

“Zadok” Hebrew H6659 · used in 50 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  • 1 Kings 1:34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
  • 1 Chronicles 24:3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.