Jezaniah

Biblical Account

Jezaniah appears in the Book of Jeremiah. His Hebrew name is interpreted to mean "the LORD hears."

After Babylon destroyed Judah, it appointed Gedaliah as governor. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, however, killed Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41). Fearing Babylonian reprisals, the remaining military commanders and the people then sought to flee to Egypt.

At this point "all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah," together with the people, came to Jeremiah. They asked him to inquire of God concerning the way they should go, and they promised to obey the answer, "whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Jeremiah 42:1–6). Ten days later Jeremiah delivered the word that they should remain in the land of Judah and not go to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:7–22).

In Jeremiah 43:2, "Azariah the son of Hoshaiah" and Johanan rejected this word as false. They claimed that Baruch had incited Jeremiah against them. In the end the company went down to Egypt, taking even Jeremiah and Baruch with them (Jeremiah 43:1–7).

Significance in the Bible

Jezaniah is portrayed as one of the leaders who sought God's will yet refused to accept His answer. He has little prominence as an individual. He is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Issues

• Is he the same person as Azariah? Jezaniah in Jeremiah 42:1 and Azariah in 43:2 have the same father (Hoshaiah) and appear in the same role. For this reason, many regard the two names as referring to one person. In addition, the Septuagint is reported to read "Azariah" in 42:1 as well.
• Jezaniah in Jeremiah 40:8: Jeremiah 40:8 lists "Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite" among the commanders who came to Gedaliah. Some identify him with the Jezaniah of 42:1, while others regard him as a different person because his father is identified differently. "Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite" in 2 Kings 25:23 is considered the same person as the Jezaniah of 40:8.
• The text does not record Jezaniah's activities after the move to Egypt.

In the Korean Church

Jezaniah is rarely treated on his own in sermons or Sunday school. Even in sermons on Jeremiah 42–43, attention usually falls on Johanan's group as a whole rather than on Jezaniah as an individual.