Topical Encyclopedia
Eliakim is a significant biblical figure whose name means "God raises" or "God sets up." He appears in several contexts within the Old Testament, primarily in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah. Eliakim's account and roles provide insight into the political and spiritual dynamics of the Kingdom of Judah during a tumultuous period.
1.
Eliakim, Son of Hilkiah: Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, served as a high-ranking official in the court of King Hezekiah of Judah. He is most notably recognized for his role as the palace administrator or "over the household," a position of considerable authority and responsibility. In
2 Kings 18:18, Eliakim is mentioned alongside Shebna the scribe and Joah the recorder when they meet with the Assyrian envoys sent by King Sennacherib. This encounter is crucial as it occurs during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, a time of great distress for Judah.
In
Isaiah 22:20-22, Eliakim's appointment is prophesied by Isaiah, who declares that Eliakim will replace Shebna. The passage highlights Eliakim's role as a faithful servant, stating, "In that day I will summon My servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will hand your authority over to him, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" . This prophecy underscores Eliakim's divinely sanctioned authority and his role as a stabilizing force in Judah.
2.
Eliakim, Son of Josiah: Another Eliakim appears in the biblical narrative as the son of King Josiah. This Eliakim was renamed Jehoiakim by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who placed him on the throne of Judah after deposing his brother Jehoahaz. This renaming signifies the political subjugation of Judah to Egypt at the time. As recorded in
2 Kings 23:34, "Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died" .
Jehoiakim's reign was marked by idolatry and injustice, leading to prophetic denunciations, particularly from Jeremiah. His rule is characterized by a departure from the reforms of his father Josiah, and he is remembered for his resistance to the prophetic word, as seen in his burning of the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies (
Jeremiah 36:23).
3.
Symbolic and Theological Significance: Eliakim's role as a faithful steward in the house of David has been interpreted by some Christian theologians as a typological foreshadowing of Christ, who holds the keys of David in
Revelation 3:7. This connection emphasizes the continuity of God's covenantal promises and the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who opens and closes with divine authority.
Eliakim's life and service, particularly as the son of Hilkiah, reflect themes of divine appointment, faithful stewardship, and the exercise of godly authority. His account serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and integrity in leadership, especially during times of national crisis.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Eliakimresurrection of God
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Eliakim(raised up by God.).
- Son of Hilkiah, master of Hezekiah's household ("over the house," as) (Isaiah 36:3) (2 Kings 18:18,26,37) (B.C. 713.) Eliakim was a good man, as appears by the title emphatically applied to him by God, "my servant Eliakim," (Isaiah 22:20) and also in the discharge of the duties of his high station, in which he acted as a "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." (Isaiah 22:21)
- The original name of Jehoiakim king of Judah. (2 Kings 23:34; 2 Chronicles 36:4)
- A priest in the days of Nehemiah, who assisted at the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 12:41) (B.C. 446.)
- Eldest son of Abiud or Judah; brother of Joseph, and father of Azor. (Matthew 1:13)
- son of Melea, and father of Jonan. (Luke 3:30,31)
ATS Bible Dictionary
Eliakim1. A king of Judah, 2 Kings 23:24. See JEHOIAKIM.
2. An officer of king Hezekiah's court, appointed with others to treat with Rabshakeh, general of the Assyrian forces them besieging Jerusalem, 2 Kings 18:1-19:37 Isaiah 36:22. See SENNACHERIB.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Whom God will raise up.
(1.) The son of Melea (Luke 3:30), and probably grandson of Nathan.
(2.) The son of Abiud, of the posterity of Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:13).
(3.) The son of Hilkiah, who was sent to receive the message of the invading Assyrians and report it to Isaiah (2 Kings 18:18; 19:2; Isaiah 36:3; 37:2). In his office as governor of the palace of Hezekiah he succeeded Shebna (Isaiah 22:15-25). He was a good man (Isaiah 22:20; 2 Kings 18:37), and had a splendid and honourable career.
(4.) The original name of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (2 Kings 23:34). He was the son of Josiah.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ELIAKIMe-li'-a-kim ('elyaqim; Eliakeim, "God sets up"):
(1) The son of Hilkiah who succeeded Shebna as gorvernor of the palace and "grand vizier" under Hezekiah (Isaiah 22:20). The functions of his office are seen from the oracle of Isaiah in which Shebna is deposed and Eliakim set in his place (Isaiah 22:15). He is the "treasurer" (the Revised Version, margin "steward"), and is "over the house" (Isaiah 22:15).
At his installation he is clothed with a robe and girdle, the insignia of his office, and, having the government committed into his hand, is the "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah" (Isaiah 22:21). The key of the house of David is laid on his shoulder, and he alone has power to open and shut, this being symbolic of his absolute authority as the king's representative (Isaiah 22:22).
One of Solomon's officials is the first mentioned as occupying this position (1 Kings 4:6), and this office was continued in both the Northern and Southern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 18:3 2 Kings 10:5; 2 Kings 15:5). Its importance is seen from the fact that after Azariah was smitten with leprosy, Jotham his heir "was over the household, judging the people of the land" (2 Kings 15:5).
When Sennacherib sent an army against Jerusalem in 701, Eliskim was one of these Jewish princes who held on behalf of Hezekiah a parley with the Assyrian officers (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37 Isaiah 36:3, 11, 22). As a result of the invader's threats, he was sent by Hezekiah in sackcloth to Isaiah, entreating his prayers to Yahweh on behalf of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:2 Isaiah 37:2).
(2) The original name of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh-necoh made king of Judah (2 Kings 23:34 2 Chronicles 36:4).
(3) A priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, rebuilt after his return from Babylon (Nehemiah 12:41).
(4) A grandson of Zerubbabel and ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:13).
(5) An ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:30).
S. F. Hunter
Greek
1662. Eliakim -- Eliakim, two Israelites ... 1661, 1662.
Eliakim. 1663 .
Eliakim, two Israelites. Part of Speech:
Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Eliakim Phonetic
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1662.htm - 6k107. Azor -- Azor, an Israelite
... of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Azor Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-zore') Short Definition: Azor Definition: Azor, son of Eliakim and father of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/107.htm - 6k
10. Abioud -- Abiud, Abihud, the son of Zerubbabel
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Abioud Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-ood') Short
Definition: Abiud Definition: Abiud, son of Zerubbabel and father of Eliakim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/10.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
471. Elyaqim -- "God sets up," three Israelites... "God sets up," three Israelites. Transliteration: Elyaqim Phonetic Spelling:
(el-yaw-keem') Short Definition:
Eliakim.
... NASB Word Usage
Eliakim (12).
Eliakim.
... /hebrew/471.htm - 6kLibrary
A Prophet who Saved a Great City
... When they arrived at Jerusalem, they called for Hezekiah the ruler of Judah, Eliakim,
the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a prophet who saved a.htm
On Daniel. I. Preface by the Most Holy Hippolytus, (Bishop) of ...
... world. He is born, then, in the time of the prophetic ministry of the blessed
Jeremiah, and in the reign of Jehoiakim or Eliakim. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel i preface by.htm
How Amon Reigned Instead of Manasseh; and after Amon Reigned ...
... And when the money was brought in, he made one Maaseiah the governor of the city,
and Shaphan the scribe, and Joab the recorder, and Eliakim the high priest ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how amon reigned.htm
The Nail
... Apparently he was a usurper. God announced that he should be set aside in shame,
and the man of His choice " Eliakim " should take his place. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/17 the nail.htm
Philadelphia
... On this account he was ordered to be deposed, by Divine command, and "the key of
the house of David" was laid upon the shoulder of Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/philadelphia.htm
Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus Christ
... And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14.
And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/matthews genealogy of jesus christ.htm
Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
... the governor of Jerusalem, who rebuilt the temple, as told by Ezra, Haggai, and
Zechariah]; 13 and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iii genealogy of jesus according.htm
How Sennacherib Made an Expedition against Hezekiah; What
... might speak with him; but he did not himself come out to them for fear, but he sent
three of his most intimate friends; the name of one was Eliakim, who was ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how sennacherib made.htm
Of the Agreement of the Evangelists Matthew and Luke in the ...
... after the carrying away into Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat
Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon i of the agreement.htm
Letter S
... Ezra "Received 1834 * Sayre, John "Received 1821, Located 1830 * Scales, Nicholas
D. "Received 1822, Located 1832 * Scammon, Eliakim "Received 1836 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter s.htm
Thesaurus
Eliakim (14 Occurrences)...ELIAKIM.
... The functions of his office are seen from the oracle of Isaiah in which
Shebna is deposed and
Eliakim set in his place (Isaiah 22:15).
.../e/eliakim.htm - 15kEliakim's (2 Occurrences)
...Eliakim's (2 Occurrences). ... 2 Chronicles 36:4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his
brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. ...
/e/eliakim's.htm - 7k
Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)
Eli'akim. Eliakim, Eli'akim. Eliakim's . ... Matthew 1:13 and Zerubbabel begat Abiud,
and Abiud begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat Azor, (See RSV). ...
/e/eli'akim.htm - 9k
Joah (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/j/joah.htm - 11k
Administrator (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/a/administrator.htm - 9k
Shebna (9 Occurrences)
... the palace. On account of his pride he was ejected from his office, and
Eliakim was promoted to it (Isaiah 22:15-25). He appears ...
/s/shebna.htm - 20k
Secretary (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/s/secretary.htm - 18k
Jo'ah (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/j/jo'ah.htm - 8k
Recorder (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/r/recorder.htm - 12k
Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)
... Having called upon King Hezekiah, his representatives Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah,
Shebnah, the scribe, and Joah, the recorder, appeared. ...
/r/rabshakeh.htm - 14k
Resources
Who was King Jehoiakim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the keys of death (Revelation 1:18)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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