Jeremiah 52:1Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
The setting
Jerusalem, Israel, 597 BC. A young man becomes king of a nation already under Babylonian control...
The emotion here: methodical documentation of tragedy's beginning
The original word
malak (מלך) — to reign, but here implies ruling over ruins rather than glory
Why it matters
Zedekiah was actually Mattaniah before Nebuchadnezzar changed his name to show ownership
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 52:1
His mother's name is mentioned because in royal records, the queen mother held significant political power
Common misconceptionPeople assume this is just genealogy, but it's actually a legal indictment — the narrator is building a case for why Jerusalem fell by showing the character of its final king.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 52:1
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 52:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 52:1 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is starting, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include kingship, historical record, leadership. Notable phrases: twenty-one years old; began to reign.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same starting
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t…”
— Acts 1:8
“Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receiv…”
— Acts 2:38
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 52:1 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "starting"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.