Zebidah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the royal lineage of the Kingdom of Judah. Her account is found in the historical narrative of the kings of Judah, providing insight into the familial connections that shaped the monarchy during a tumultuous period in Israel's history.

Biblical Reference:

Zebidah is mentioned in 2 Kings 23:36, which states: "Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah; she was from Rumah."

Family Background:

Zebidah was the daughter of Pedaiah, a figure about whom little else is known from the biblical text. Her familial ties are significant primarily because of her role as the mother of Jehoiakim, one of the kings of Judah. Zebidah's husband, Eliakim, was renamed Jehoiakim by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt when he was placed on the throne as a vassal king. This political maneuvering highlights the external influences on Judah during this period, as Egypt sought to exert control over the region.

Role and Significance:

While the Bible does not provide extensive details about Zebidah's life or her personal influence, her mention as the mother of Jehoiakim places her within the royal narrative of Judah. Her son, Jehoiakim, is noted for his reign during a time of significant political upheaval, including the initial stages of the Babylonian exile. The brief mention of Zebidah in the biblical text underscores the importance of maternal lineage in the royal records, as the identity and heritage of the king's mother were often recorded to establish legitimacy and continuity of the royal line.

Cultural and Historical Context:

Zebidah lived during a period when the Kingdom of Judah was caught between the powerful empires of Egypt and Babylon. The political landscape was marked by shifting allegiances and the struggle for autonomy. As the mother of a king, Zebidah would have been part of the royal court, a setting that was both politically charged and influential in the shaping of Judah's history.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, Zebidah's mention in the Bible, though brief, serves as a reminder of the complex human accounts interwoven with God's overarching plan for His people. The lineage of the kings of Judah, including figures like Zebidah, is part of the broader narrative that ultimately leads to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is traced through the line of David, of which Jehoiakim was a part.

In summary, Zebidah's role as the mother of King Jehoiakim places her within the significant historical and theological framework of the Old Testament, highlighting the intricate connections between family, politics, and faith in the biblical narrative.ZEBIDAH

ze-bi'-da, zeb'-i-da (zebhudhah, Qere, whence the King James Version "Zebudah," whereas the Kethibh is zebhidhah; the Qere means "bestowed" and is the feminine of Zabud): Daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah, and mother of King Jehoiakim of Judah (2 Kings 23:36). The Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus has, however, Iella thugater Edeil ek Krouma, Codex Alexandrinus Eieldaph th. Eieddila ek Rhuma. In 2 Chronicles 36:5 Massoretic Text lacks these names, but the Septuagint Codex Vaticanus has Zechora th. Nereiou ek Rhama; here the name of the king's mother = Hebrew zekhurah, due to a confusion of the Hebrew letter kaph (k) with the Hebrew letter beth (b), and the Hebrew letter resh (r) with the Hebrew letter daleth (d), and thus we find support for the Qere, zebhudhah ("Zebudah," in 2 Kings 23:36 the King James Version). Lucian has confused the names here with those of 2 Kings 24:18, and has as there, "Amital, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah."

David Francis Roberts

2080. Zebiddah -- mother of Jehoiakim
... 2079, 2080. Zebiddah. 2081 . mother of Jehoiakim. Transliteration: Zebiddah
Phonetic Spelling: (zeb-ee-daw') Short Definition: Zebidah. ...
/hebrew/2080.htm - 6kZebidah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ZEBIDAH. ze-bi'-da, zeb ... Francis Roberts.
Multi-Version Concordance Zebidah (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings ...
/z/zebidah.htm - 8k

Rumah (2 Occurrences)
... Rhouma; Codex Alexandrinus Rhuma): To this place belonged Pedaiah whose daughter
Zebudah (the Revised Version (British and American) "Zebidah") entered the ...
/r/rumah.htm - 8k

Zebedee's (2 Occurrences)

/z/zebedee's.htm - 6k

Zebi'dah (1 Occurrence)
Zebi'dah. Zebidah, Zebi'dah. Zebina . Multi-Version Concordance Zebi'dah (1
Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Zebidah, Zebi'dah. Zebina . Reference Bible.
/z/zebi'dah.htm - 6k

Twenty-five (36 Occurrences)
... 23:36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of ...
/t/twenty-five.htm - 18k

Pedaiah (8 Occurrences)
... 23:36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of ...
/p/pedaiah.htm - 11k

Eleven (25 Occurrences)
... 23:36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zebidah the daughter of ...
/e/eleven.htm - 16k

Queen (59 Occurrences)
... of Bozkath, the mother of Josiah (2 Kings 22:1); Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah
of Libnah, the mother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31); Zebidah, the daughter of ...
/q/queen.htm - 44k

Mother (2641 Occurrences)
... of Bozkath, the mother of Josiah (2 Kings 22:1); Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah
of Libnah, the mother of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31); Zebidah, the daughter of ...
/m/mother.htm - 17k

Who was King Jehoiakim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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