Lexical Summary Yotbah: Jotbah Original Word: יָטְבָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jotbah From yatab; pleasantness; Jotbah, a place in Palestine -- Jotbah. see HEBREW yatab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yatab Definition "pleasantness," a city probably in Judah NASB Translation Jotbah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָטְבָה proper name, of a location (pleasantness) city probably in Judah 2 Kings 21:19, site unknown. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Yotbah (commonly rendered “Jotbah”) is most likely derived from the Hebrew verb for “to be good” or “to be pleasant,” suggesting a place characterized by goodness or beauty. Scriptural Occurrence The name appears once in the Old Testament: “Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah.” (2 Kings 21:19). Though the mention is brief, it anchors the locality to the royal genealogy of Judah. Geographical Considerations 1. Southern Judah or the Negev: Because the text links Jotbah to a woman married into the royal court of Jerusalem, many scholars place it within Judah’s southern territories, perhaps in the Negev highlands. Historical Setting Amon ruled circa 642-640 BC, during a period of deep spiritual decline in Judah. His father Manasseh had promoted idolatry; Amon continued this apostasy (2 Kings 21:20-22). The reference to Jotbah therefore marks the hometown of a queen mother whose son perpetuated national unfaithfulness. The chronicling of her origin underscores the prophetic assessment that the nation’s sin was pervasive, extending even to families linked to places once known for “goodness.” Relationship to the Royal Household The biblical historians consistently note the mothers of Judah’s kings (2 Kings 8:26; 14:2; 22:1) to highlight covenant blessings or failures transmitted through family lines. Meshullemeth of Jotbah figures in this pattern. While there is no direct censure of her, her son’s wickedness contrasts sharply with the implied meaning of her birthplace, creating a literary irony that underscores Judah’s moral collapse. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. The Reach of God’s Evaluation: Even obscure locales and seemingly incidental details fall under divine scrutiny, affirming that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13). Connections with Other Biblical Passages • Numbers 33:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:7 – Potential earlier references to the same region under the longer form Jotbathah, noted for abundant water. Practical Application for Today Believers are cautioned that a godly heritage or “pleasant” surroundings do not guarantee faithfulness. Genuine devotion requires continual personal commitment. Churches and families should therefore cultivate environments that not only remember past blessings but also actively uphold obedience to the Word, lest they, like Amon, squander a legacy meant for good. Summary Though mentioned only once, Yotbah serves as a strategic marker in the biblical story, tying a remote locality to the spiritual state of Judah’s monarchy. Its legacy challenges God’s people to treasure their heritage, recognize the peril of complacency, and seek ongoing renewal in the Lord. Forms and Transliterations יָטְבָֽה׃ יטבה׃ yā·ṭə·ḇāh yāṭəḇāh yateVahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 21:19 HEB: חָר֖וּץ מִן־ יָטְבָֽה׃ NAS: the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. KJV: the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. INT: of Haruz at of Jotbah 1 Occurrence |
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