And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

JEREMIAH 37:1KJV
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Jeremiah 37:1 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 37:1 mean?

Jeremiah 37:1 explains that Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, became king of Judah after Coniah (also known as Jehoiachin), the son of Jehoiakim, because Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, appointed him to rule. The verse sets the political scene by showing that Judah’s king was chosen by a foreign power rather than by the people or traditional succession.

This verse is part of a historical record in the book of Jeremiah, where the prophet describes the final days of the kingdom of Judah. The verse highlights that Zedekiah’s reign was not independent; instead, he was installed by Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon after the previous king, Coniah, was removed. This detail shows the loss of Judah’s sovereignty and sets the stage for the events that follow in Jeremiah’s account.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 37:1

  • "King" (מֶלֶךְ, melekh): This word appears several times, emphasizing the focus on royal authority and the transfer of power. The repetition underlines the importance of who holds the throne and by whose authority.
  • "Zedekiah" (צִדְקִיָּה, Tsidqiyyah): The name means "Yahweh is righteous." Mentioning his lineage as "son of Josiah" (בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, ben-Yoshiyahu) connects him to a previous, more faithful king, but the context shows a break from that legacy.
  • "Coniah" (כָּנְיָה, Konyah): This is another name for Jehoiachin. The use of this name instead of Jehoiachin may signal a deliberate distancing or a focus on his removal.
  • "Nebuchadrezzar" (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, Nevukhadretzar): The Babylonian king’s name is included to stress that Judah’s leadership now depended on Babylon’s decisions, not on local succession.

Why Jeremiah 37:1 matters

  • Jeremiah 37:1 clarifies that Zedekiah was not the rightful heir by traditional standards but was made king by Babylon, highlighting Judah’s loss of independence.
  • The verse connects the events of Zedekiah’s reign to the wider story of Judah’s downfall, helping readers understand why Jeremiah’s warnings were so urgent.
  • By naming the kings and their lineage, the verse helps readers trace the decline from Josiah’s faithful reign to the troubled rule under Babylon’s control, setting the tone for the chapters that follow.

Where else these words appear

“Coniah” Hebrew H3659 · used in 3 verses

  • Jeremiah 22:24 As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
  • Jeremiah 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

“Jehoiakim” Hebrew H3079 · used in 37 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
  • Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
  • Jeremiah 35:1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

“Josiah” Hebrew H2977 · used in 48 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
  • Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

“Nebuchadrezzar” Hebrew H5019 · used in 59 verses

  • 2 Kings 24:1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
  • Jeremiah 25:1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
  • Jeremiah 44:30 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.