Nehushta

biblical_person theological_term standard

Nehushta was the mother of King Jehoiachin and a royal woman in Judah during the final years before the Babylonian exile.

At a Glance

Nehushta was a biblical woman mentioned in 2 Kings 24 as the mother of Jehoiachin, Judah’s exiled king.

Key Points

A biblical person, not a theological concept
Identified as Jehoiachin’s mother
Appears in the context of Judah’s fall to Babylon
Associated with the royal household and the queen mother’s role

Description

Nehushta is a woman mentioned in the historical narrative of Judah’s final years. In 2 Kings 24:8 she is identified as the mother of Jehoiachin, and she is included among those connected to the royal household during the Babylonian exile. The biblical notice is brief, but it places her within the closing phase of the Davidic monarchy before Jerusalem’s downfall. Because Nehushta is a proper name for a biblical person, this entry should be treated as a personal name entry rather than a doctrinal or theological term.

Biblical Context

Nehushta appears in the account of Jehoiachin’s reign and the deportation to Babylon. Her mention helps situate the king within his family and within the collapse of Judah’s monarchy.

Historical Context

Her brief appearance belongs to the period when Babylon was asserting dominance over Judah and carrying away members of the royal family. The mention of the queen mother reflects the importance of royal women in the court of Judah.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In the ancient Near Eastern and Judean court, the king’s mother often held recognized status as queen mother. Nehushta’s mention fits that setting, though Scripture does not elaborate on her duties or influence.

Primary Key Texts

2 Kings 24:8
2 Kings 24:12
2 Kings 24:15

Secondary Key Texts

Jeremiah 13:18

Original Language Note

Hebrew: Neḥuštāh (נְחֻשְׁתָּא), a personal name associated with the root for bronze or copper.

Theological Significance

Nehushta herself is not a major theological figure, but her mention supports the historicity of Judah’s royal line and the biblical record of the exile.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry is a historical identification rather than a doctrinal concept. Its value lies in preserving the Bible’s concrete naming of real people in real events.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not build theology from the name alone. The biblical text gives very little biographical detail, so later claims about her character or role should remain modest.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal debate about Nehushta. The only interpretive issue is how much to infer from her brief mention in the royal narrative.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Nehushta is a historical biblical person, not a doctrine, symbol, or title for a theological office.

Practical Significance

Her brief mention reminds readers that Scripture records even seemingly minor people within salvation history and that the fall of Judah involved real families, not abstract events.

Related Entries

Jehoiachin
Jehoiakim
Elnathan
Queen mother
Babylonian exile

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Nehushta