Jeremiah 22:24 - Exposition

Coniah . A shorter form of Jeconiah ( 1 Chronicles 3:1 ), found again in Jeremiah 37:1 . Perhaps this was the name this king bore prior to his accession, after which it was certainly Jehoiachin; Jeremiah has already spoken of one king by his earlier name in verse 11. The Divine speaker solemnly announces that though, as the representative of Israel's invisible King, Coniah were —or rather, be— the signet upon his right hand (a most valued jewel), yet would—or rather, will —he pluck him thence; i.e. depose him from his high dignity. The same figure is used in Haggai 2:23 , "I will take thee, O Zerubbabel, and make thee as a signet;" and Ezekiel 28:12 , where there is a well-attested reading, "Thou (O King of Type) art a deftly made signet-ring." (For the fulfillment of the prediction in this verse, see 2 Kings 24:12 , 2 Kings 24:15 ; Jeremiah 24:1 ; Jeremiah 29:2 .)