Ἑζεκίας

Pronunciation Guide: heh-zeh-KEE-as

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1478: Ἑζεκίας (Hezekias) refers to King Hezekiah of Judah, whose name appears in the genealogy of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. The name literally means “יהוה (Yahweh) has strengthened” or “strength of יהוה (Yahweh).” In the New Testament, he is mentioned solely as a royal ancestor in the Messianic lineage, while his fuller story of faith and reformation is detailed in the Old Testament.

Etymology and Morphology

• Proper noun (masculine)
• Hebrew origin: חִזְקִיָּה (Ḥizqiyyāh) or יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ (Yəḥizqiyyāhū)
• Appears in genealogical narrative sections
• Transliteration of the Hebrew name into Greek
• Used in the royal genealogy of the Messiah

Ἑζεκίας Morphology:

• Ἑζεκίας (nominative singular) – Hezekiah (as subject)
• Ἑζεκίου (genitive singular) – of Hezekiah
• Ἑζεκίᾳ (dative singular) – to/for Hezekiah
• Ἑζεκίαν (accusative singular) – Hezekiah (as object)

Origin & History

Ἑζεκίας (Hezekias) is the Hellenized form of the Hebrew name חִזְקִיָּה (Ḥizqiyyāh) or in its longer form יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ (Yəḥizqiyyāhū), meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) has strengthened” or “strength of יהוה (Yahweh).” The name reflects the theophoric tradition in ancient Hebrew nomenclature, incorporating the Divine Name to express theological significance. The Greek form appears in the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, where Hezekiah’s reign is detailed in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah.

In the Septuagint, the name Ἑζεκίας occurs frequently in the historical narratives, particularly in 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32, and portions of Isaiah. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, also uses this Greek form in his “Antiquities of the Jews” when recounting the history of this Judean king, demonstrating the standardization of this transliteration in Hellenistic Jewish literature.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A personal name meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) has strengthened”
• A king of Judah known for religious reforms and restoration of proper Temple worship
• An ancestor in the genealogical line of Yeshua the Messiah
• A historical figure who exemplified trust in יהוה (Yahweh) during national crisis

Ἑζεκίας Translation Options:

• Hezekiah – Most common English rendering, directly transliterating the Greek form
• Ezekias – More literal transliteration of the Greek spelling
• Hizkiyahu – Closer to the original Hebrew pronunciation (יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ)
• Hizkiyah – Simplified form of the Hebrew name without the theophoric suffix
• Ezechias – Used in some older English translations following the Latin Vulgate

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, Ἑζεκίας appears exclusively in Matthew 1:9-10 as part of the royal genealogy establishing Yeshua’s legal claim to the Davidic throne. Matthew includes him as the son of Ahaz and father of Manasseh, maintaining the royal lineage despite generational spiritual fluctuations. This inclusion is significant as it places the Messiah in the line of one of Judah’s most faithful kings, creating a theological connection between Hezekiah’s reforms and the ultimate reformation brought by Yeshua.

In the Septuagint, Ἑζεκίας features prominently in the historical narratives of 2 Kings (4 Kingdoms) and 2 Chronicles, as well as in prophecies of Isaiah. His reign represents one of Judah’s spiritual high points, marked by religious revival, Temple restoration, and miraculous deliverance from Assyrian invasion. The Septuagint accounts preserve his prayers, reforms, and the divine interventions that characterized his 29-year reign.

• “And Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας], and Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] became the father of Manasseh.” Matthew 1:9-10
• “And Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 18:3 (LXX)
• “Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] trusted in the Lord God of Israel.” 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 18:5 (LXX)
• “Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] prayed to the Lord.” 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 19:15 (LXX)
• “Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] became mortally ill.” 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 20:1 (LXX)
• “Hezekiah [Ἑζεκίας] began to restore the house of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 29:3 (LXX)

Cultural Insights

Hezekiah’s reign (circa 716-687 BCE) came at a critical juncture in Judah’s history, with the northern kingdom of Israel having fallen to Assyria. His religious reforms must be understood against the backdrop of widespread idolatry that had infiltrated temple worship under his father Ahaz. One of Hezekiah’s most remarkable actions was the destruction of the bronze serpent (נְחֻשְׁתָּן, Nehushtan) that Moses had made in the wilderness, which had become an object of idolatrous worship (2 Kings 18:4). This bold act demonstrated his commitment to pure monotheistic worship of יהוה (Yahweh) alone.

Another fascinating cultural detail is Hezekiah’s water engineering project, the Siloam Tunnel, constructed to secure Jerusalem’s water supply during the Assyrian threat. Archaeological discoveries confirm the biblical account, including the famous Siloam Inscription that describes the meeting of the two teams of tunnelers working from opposite ends. This remarkable feat of ancient engineering stands as physical testimony to the historical reliability of the biblical accounts about Ἑζεκίας and reflects the king’s practical wisdom in preparing for national defense while simultaneously trusting in divine protection.

Theological Significance

Theologically, Hezekiah serves as a profound type of the coming Messiah in several ways. His name itself, meaning “יהוה (Yahweh) has strengthened,” prefigures how the Messiah would be strengthened by יהוה (Yahweh) for His mission of spiritual restoration. Just as Hezekiah cleansed and restored proper worship in the Temple, Yeshua would later cleanse the Temple physically but also establish a new spiritual worship through His redemptive work.

The miraculous extension of Hezekiah’s life by fifteen years following his prayer (Isaiah 38:1-5) foreshadows resurrection life and the power of petition before יהוה (Yahweh). The sign given to him—the shadow moving backward ten steps on the stairway of Ahaz—demonstrated יהוה’s sovereignty over time itself, pointing toward the greater miracle of the Messiah who would transcend time through His eternal nature while entering human history. Hezekiah’s deliverance from Assyria’s seemingly invincible army through divine intervention parallels the ultimate victory of the Messiah over seemingly insurmountable spiritual enemies.

Personal Application

Hezekiah’s life reminds us that true spiritual reform begins with decisive action against obstacles to pure worship. Consider what “high places” or “bronze serpents” might exist in your own spiritual life—good things that have become idols or distractions from wholehearted devotion to יהוה (Yahweh). Like Hezekiah, we are called to remove these obstacles, however historically or emotionally significant they might be, when they hinder our relationship with the living God.

The king’s response to crisis also provides a powerful model for believers today. When facing the overwhelming Assyrian threat, Hezekiah spread the enemy’s threatening letter before יהוה (Yahweh) in prayer (2 Kings 19:14-19). This physical act of laying our troubles before the Lord remains a profound spiritual practice. Whatever threatening “letters” you face—medical diagnoses, financial challenges, relationship difficulties—follow Hezekiah’s example by physically and spiritually placing them in יהוה’s hands, trusting in His sovereign power to intervene.

Related Words

• Μανασσῆς (Manasses, mah-nahs-SACE) – Hezekiah’s son who reversed his father’s righteous reforms and led Judah back into idolatry, yet later repented after being taken captive to Babylon. His story demonstrates יהוה’s willingness to forgive even the most wayward. See G3128
• Ἄχαζ (Achaz, AH-khaz) – Hezekiah’s father, whose idolatrous practices Hezekiah would later overturn, illustrating how a righteous son can break generational patterns of sin. See G881
• Δαυίδ (David, dah-WEED) – The royal ancestor whose throne Hezekiah occupied and whose spiritual legacy he partially restored, foreshadowing the ultimate Son of David, the Messiah. See G1138
• Ἠσαΐας (Esaias, ay-sah-EE-as) – The prophet who ministered during Hezekiah’s reign, delivering both words of judgment and comfort, and recording some of the king’s most significant experiences. See G2268
• Ἰωσίας (Josias, yo-SEE-as) – A later righteous king who, like Hezekiah, implemented extensive religious reforms and restoration of pure worship in Judah. See G2502

Did You Know?

• The Siloam Inscription, discovered in 1880 in Jerusalem, provides archaeological confirmation of Hezekiah’s tunnel project mentioned in 2 Kings 20:20 and 2 Chronicles 32:30. This ancient Hebrew inscription describes the dramatic moment when two teams of tunnelers, working from opposite ends, heard each other’s voices through the rock and completed the water channel. The inscription stands as tangible evidence of the historical accuracy of the biblical accounts about King Hezekiah.
• Hezekiah is one of the few biblical figures whose prayers are recorded verbatim in Scripture multiple times (2 Kings 19:15-19, Isaiah 38:10-20). His prayer in Isaiah 38 following his healing became part of the liturgical tradition of Israel and contains profound theological reflection on life, death, and divine mercy. This prayer-poem demonstrates the king’s spiritual depth beyond his political and religious reforms.
• Clay seals (bullae) bearing the inscription “Belonging to Hezekiah, (son of) Ahaz, king of Judah” have been discovered by archaeologists in Jerusalem. These royal seals, dating to the late 8th century BCE, bear the image of a winged sun disk, an Egyptian symbol that Hezekiah appears to have repurposed to represent יהוה’s protective presence. This archaeological discovery provides independent confirmation of Hezekiah’s historical existence and royal status exactly as recorded in Scripture.

Remember This

Ἑζεκίας reminds us that genuine spiritual revival requires both the courage to destroy entrenched idolatry and the commitment to restore authentic worship—a pattern that finds its perfect fulfillment in the Messiah Yeshua, who cleanses our temples and establishes true worship in spirit and truth.