Tzidqiyyahu

Tzidqiyyahu is the original Hebrew form of the name Zedekiah. It is composed of two elements: tseḏeq, meaning "justice" or "righteousness", and yah, a shortened form of Yahweh, the name of the Hebrew God. Thus, the name means "Yahweh is my righteousness", a theophoric name common in ancient Judah. In the Hebrew Bible, Tzidqiyyahu was the birth name of the last king of Judah, though he is better known by his throne name Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). The name reflects the king's role as a ruler appointed by God, emphasizing divine justice rather than royal lineage. According to biblical accounts, Zedekiah was originally named Mattaniah, meaning "gift of Yahweh". When the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II placed him on the throne after deposing Jeconiah, he changed his name to Zedekiah as a political act, signaling submission to Babylonian authority and likely implying a pledge of loyalty under divine oversight. However, Zedekiah later rebelled against Babylon, leading to the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. The prophet Jeremiah urged him to surrender, but he refused; as a result, the city was destroyed, and Zedekiah was captured. The Bible records that "he did evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kings 24:19). The name Tzidqiyyahu thus carries a tragic irony: a name proclaiming divine righteousness yet associated with a king whose reign ended in disaster.

• Meaning: "Yahweh is my righteousness" or "Yah is righteousness"
• Origin: Hebrew, from tseḏeq (righteousness) and yah (Yahweh)
• Type: Theophoric name; first name
• Usage: Hebrew Bible, ancient Judah