Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

2 KINGS 18:2KJV
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2 Kings 18:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 18:2 mean?

2 Kings 18:2 states that Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five and ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. The verse also mentions his mother, Abi, who was the daughter of Zachariah.

This verse is part of a historical record, giving basic facts about Hezekiah’s reign. The writer is introducing Hezekiah, a significant king in Judah’s history, by noting his age at the start of his reign, how long he ruled, and his family background. Mentioning his mother’s name and lineage was a common way to establish royal legitimacy and connect him to known families.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 18:2

  • "Abi" (אֲבִי, 'Avi) is the name of Hezekiah’s mother. In Hebrew, this name means "my father," but here it is simply used as a personal name. Including her name highlights her importance in Hezekiah’s background.
  • "Zachariah" (זְכַרְיָה, Zekharyah) is the name of Abi’s father. This name means "Yahweh remembers." Naming Abi’s father connects Hezekiah to another known family, which may have been significant for readers interested in royal lineage.

Why 2 Kings 18:2 matters

  • This verse sets the stage for Hezekiah’s story by giving clear historical details, helping readers place him in Judah’s timeline.
  • Mentioning Hezekiah’s mother and grandfather shows the importance of family connections in the biblical record, especially for kings.
  • The details here help distinguish Hezekiah from other kings and prepare the reader for the significant events that will follow in his reign.

Where else these words appear

“Zachariah” Hebrew H2148 · used in 43 verses

  • 2 Kings 14:29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Chronicles 27:21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
  • Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

“nine” Hebrew H8672 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
  • Numbers 34:13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
  • 2 Kings 25:8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: