And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

And he appointed Matthanias his uncle in his stead: and called his name Sedecias.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his uncle king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

And the king of Babylon causeth Mattaniah his father's brother to reign in his stead, and turneth his name to Zedekiah.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in place of Jehoiachin, changing his name to Zedekiah.

And he appointed Mattaniah, his uncle, in his place. And he imposed the name Zedekiah upon him.

Mattaniah, son of Josiah and brother of Jehoahaz, but thirteen years his junior, adopted a name significant of the blessings promised by Jeremiah to the reign of a king whose name should be "Yahweh, our righteousness" Jeremiah 23:5-8.

Made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead - He was the son of Josiah, and brother to Jehoiakim.
Changed his name to Zedekiah - See the note on 2-Kings 23:34.

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead,.... The third son of Josiah, 1-Chronicles 3:15.
and changed his name to Zedekiah; for the same reason the king of Egypt changed the name of Eliakim, 2-Kings 23:34 to signify his subjection to him; though some think it was to put him in mind of the justice of God, as the name signifies, that would overtake him, should he be treacherous to him, and rebel against him; so the Jewish Midrash.

ZEDEKIAH'S EVIL REIGN. (2-Kings 24:17-20)
the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, his father's brother, king in his stead--Adhering to his former policy of maintaining a show of monarchy, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the third and youngest son of Josiah (1-Chronicles 3:15), full brother of Jehoahaz, and uncle of the captive Jehoiachin. But, according to the custom of conquerors, who changed the names of the great men they took captives in war, in token of their supremacy, he gave him the new name of
Zedekiah--that is, "The righteous of God." This being a purely Hebrew name, it seems that he allowed the puppet king to choose his own name, which was confirmed. His heart towards God was the same as that of Jehoiakim, impenitent and heedless of God's word.

Over the lower classes of the people who had been left behind Nebuchadnezzar placed the paternal uncle of the king, who had been led away, viz., Mattaniah, and made him king under the name of Zedekiah. He was the youngest son of Josiah (Jeremiah 1:3; Jeremiah 37:1); was only ten years old when his father died, and twenty-one years old when he ascended the throne; and as the uncle of Jehoiachin, who being only a youth of eighteen could not have a son capable of reigning, had the first claim to the throne. Instead of דּדו, his uncle, we have in 2-Chronicles 36:10 אהיו, his brother, i.e., his nearest relation. On the change in the name see at 2-Kings 23:34. The name צדקיּהוּ, i.e., he who has Jehovah's righteousness, was probably chosen by Mattaniah in the hope that through him or in his reign the Lord would create the righteousness promised to His people.

Zedekiah - That he might admonish him of (what this name signifies) the justice of God, which had so severely punished Jehoiakim for his rebellion; and would no less certainly overtake him, if he should be guilty of the same perfidiousness.