Greek word · G1478

Ἐζεκίας

ezekias

Hezekiah

This is the Greek form of Hebrew Ḥizqîyāhû, "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." It comes from the root ḥāzaq, "to be strong."

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἑζεκίας (Rec. Ἐζ-), -ου, ὁ (Heb. חִזְקִיָּה, strength of Jehovah),

Hezekiah, King of Judah: Matthew 1:9, 10.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 1:9

Range of meaning

This is the Greek form of Hebrew Ḥizqîyāhû, "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." It comes from the root ḥāzaq, "to be strong."

Against the English

KJV uses "Ezekias," taken from the Greek, which hides the link with the Hezekiah of 2 Kings and Isaiah. Modern versions say "Hezekiah."

Used elsewhere in the period

In 2015 archaeologists digging at the Ophel in Jerusalem found a clay seal impression reading "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, king of Judah." The father-son link in this verse is attested in the period itself. Sennacherib's annals (the Taylor and Chicago prisms) name "Hezekiah the Judahite," shut up in Jerusalem "like a bird in a cage" in 701 BC.

From the study of Matthew 1:10

Range of meaning

A personal name from Hebrew Ḥizqiyyāhu / Ḥizqiyyâ. Its probable meaning is 'YHWH strengthens' or 'YHWH is my strength'.

Against the English

The KJV keeps the Greek form, 'Ezekias'. Modern versions go back to the Hebrew form, 'Hezekiah', so readers can see it is the king of 2 Kings 18–20.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Kings 18–20; 2 Chronicles 29–32; Isaiah 36–39. Assyrian records of Sennacherib's 701 BC campaign name him as 'Hezekiah the Judahite', shut up in Jerusalem 'like a bird in a cage'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 1:9 Ἑζεκίαν· Hezekiah;

    Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

    Here: Hebrew Ḥizqîyāhû, "Yahweh strengthens." He was the reforming king who trusted God when Assyria besieged Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18–20; Isa 36–39). He is the faithful son of a faithless father.

  2. Matthew 1:10 Ἑζεκίας Hezekiah

    Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

    Here: The Greek form of Hebrew Ḥizqiyyāhu, 'YHWH strengthens'. King of Judah around 715–686 BC, remembered as one of the two great reforming kings (2 Kings 18:3–7). He is the subject here, picking up the chain from verse 9.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.