What Does Jeremiah 21:3 Mean in the King James?

Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:

Jeremiah 21:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Before the message is given, the king’s name declares the measure that stands over every throne: YHWH is alignment.

THE MEANING

You meet the moment before the message is disclosed: speech is already moving toward the one who must hear it. Zedekiah’s name means “YHWH is alignment,” placing authority beneath a standard it does not create.

THE ROOT

צִדְקִיָּהוּ

Ṣidqiyyāhû

GROWS FROM

צדק

ṣ-d-q

To be right or just; alignment.

Zedekiah’s name joins the root ⁨צדק⁩ with a form of the divine name, carrying the claim “YHWH is righteousness.” English leaves that claim embedded in the king’s name; the same root becomes explicit in Jeremiah’s title, “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

ALSO GROWS

tsedeq: Righteousness, what is right or just; alignment.

צֶדֶק

This is the root idea carried in Zedekiah’s name: rightness belongs to YHWH.

tsaddiq: A righteous or just person.

צַדִּיק

This branch shows the root describing a person in relation to what is right, rather than naming righteousness as an abstract idea.

tsedaqah: Righteousness or justice, including acts that put things right.

צְדָקָה

This branch gives the root a lived expression: alignment takes shape in what is done.

THE PATTERN

Scriptural names carry a claim about the nature or work bound to the one who bears them.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Genesis 17:5 · KJVThe changed name Abraham carries the nature and calling stated in the verse: father of many nations.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21 · KJVThe verse connects Jesus’ name with his work of delivering his people.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

John 1:42 · KJVCephas is not merely a new label; its meaning, “A stone,” makes the name carry a nature.

THE THREAD

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 23:6 · KJV

The name Zedekiah and the title “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” share the root ⁨צדק⁩, meaning righteousness or alignment. The shared root makes the claim inside the king’s name audible in the title of the promised king.

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