Greek word · G2423

Ἰεχονίας

iechonias

Jeconiah

Greek form of Hebrew Yekonyahu / Yehoyakin / Konyahu ("the LORD establishes"). He was king of Judah for three months in 598–597 BC, surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, and was deported with the royal household, officials and craftsmen (2 Kings 24:8–16).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 21, 2026

What it means

Ἰεχονίας, -ον, ό (Heb. יְכׇנְיָה, Jehoiakin),

Jechoniah: Matthew 1:11-12.†

(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 1:12

Range of meaning: Greek form of Hebrew Yekonyahu / Yehoyakin / Konyahu ("the LORD establishes"). He was king of Judah for three months in 598–597 BC, surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, and was deported with the royal household, officials and craftsmen (2 Kings 24:8–16).
Against the English: KJV "Jechonias" and WEB "Jechoniah" follow the Greek. BSB/NIV/NASB "Jeconiah" follows Jeremiah's Hebrew form. NLT uses "Jehoiachin," the Kings form. All refer to the same man, which modern readers may not realise.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Kings 24–25; Jeremiah 22:24–30; 24:1; 52:31–34; 1 Chronicles 3:16–17. The Babylonian Chronicle dates the capture of Jerusalem to 2 Adar (March) 597 BC. Ration tablets from Nebuchadnezzar's palace (the "Weidner tablets," c. 592 BC) list oil for "Ya'ukinu, king of the land of Yahudu" and for the king of Judah's five sons. 2 Kings 25:27–30 records his release by Evil-merodach (Amel-Marduk) around 561 BC.

From the study of Matthew 1:11

Range of meaning: A Greek form of Hebrew Yekonyahu ('YHWH establishes'), the king also called Yehoyakin (Jehoiachin) and Konyahu (Coniah). In Greek sources the name forms of Josiah's descendants are not always kept apart.
Against the English: KJV 'Jechonias', ESV/WEB 'Jechoniah', BSB/NIV 'Jeconiah'. NLT replaces the name with the more familiar 'Jehoiachin', which is clearer but hides the form Matthew used and the Jehoiakim/Jeconiah confusion behind it.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Kings 24:8–17 (reigned three months, surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, deported in 597 BC). Jeremiah 22:24–30 ('Coniah'): even if he were the signet ring on God's hand he would be torn off, and 'none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David.' 2 Kings 25:27–30: released from prison in Babylon and given a seat at the king's table. Babylonian ration tablets name 'Ya'ukinu, king of the land of Yahudu' and his sons receiving oil rations. Haggai 2:23 promises his grandson Zerubbabel 'I will make you like a signet ring', which reverses Jeremiah's image.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

Matthew 1:11 Ἰεχονίαν Jeconiah

and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

Here: The Greek form of Yekonyahu, also called Jehoiachin and Coniah. He was the king of Judah who was deported to Babylon in 597 BC after reigning three months. Jeremiah had pronounced a curse on his line.
Matthew 1:12 Ἰεχονίας Jeconiah

After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Here: The Greek form of Yekonyahu ("the LORD establishes"), also called Jehoiachin and Coniah. He was the young king who surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC after a three-month reign and lived the rest of his life in Babylon.

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