Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

2 KINGS 24:18KJV
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2 Kings 24:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 24:18 mean?

2 Kings 24:18 reports that Zedekiah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-one and ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. The verse also gives the name of his mother, Hamutal, and her family background, identifying her as the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.

This verse is part of a historical record, listing the basic facts about Zedekiah’s reign as king. The writer is giving background information to set the stage for the events that follow, especially the final years of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. Mentioning Zedekiah’s mother and her lineage was a common way in ancient records to establish a king’s legitimacy and family connections.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 24:18

  • "Zedekiah" (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu) means "Yahweh is righteous," which is ironic given the troubled reign he had.
  • "Hamutal" (חֲמוּטַל, Ḥamutal) is a rare name, and her mention ties Zedekiah to earlier kings, as she was also the mother of Jehoahaz (see 2 Kings 23:31), showing a family link in the royal line.
  • "Jeremiah" (יִרְמְיָה, Yirmeyahu) here is not the prophet Jeremiah, but a different man from Libnah, clarifying family background and avoiding confusion with the well-known prophet.

Why 2 Kings 24:18 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Zedekiah was not a child when he became king, but a young adult, which matters for understanding his decisions and leadership.
  • The mention of Hamutal and her father Jeremiah of Libnah connects Zedekiah to a specific family line, which helps readers trace the royal lineage and see patterns in Judah’s final kings.
  • By setting up Zedekiah’s background, the verse prepares the reader for the dramatic events that follow in Judah’s history, including the fall of Jerusalem.

Where else these words appear

“Hamutal” Hebrew H2537 · used in 3 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 52:1 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

“Libnah” Hebrew H3841 · used in 17 verses

  • Numbers 33:20 And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.
  • Joshua 10:39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
  • 2 Kings 19:8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

“Zedekiah” Hebrew H6667 · used in 62 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
  • Jeremiah 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
  • Jeremiah 38:14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

“Jeremiah” Hebrew H3414 · used in 133 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 29:1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
  • Jeremiah 38:9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.