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.

JEREMIAH 52:1KJV
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Jeremiah 52:1 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 52:1 mean?

Jeremiah 52:1 states that Zedekiah became king of Jerusalem at the age of twenty-one and ruled for eleven years; it also names his mother as Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. This verse sets the historical context for the final king of Judah before Jerusalem’s fall.

Jeremiah 52:1 is a factual introduction, giving the reader the basic details about Zedekiah’s reign. The verse is part of a summary at the end of the book, likely written to remind readers of the key figures and events leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction. Mentioning Zedekiah’s mother and her family roots ties the king to earlier generations and helps trace the royal lineage.

Why Jeremiah 52:1 matters

  • Jeremiah 52:1 clears up who was ruling Judah at the time of its fall and how long he reigned, which is important for understanding the timeline of Jerusalem’s destruction.
  • By naming Zedekiah’s mother and her family, the verse connects the story back to earlier chapters and shows the continuity of the royal line.
  • This verse signals the beginning of a historical summary, helping the reader see the transition from Judah’s last king to the events that followed.