This event is referred to in both Jer 37.1 and Ezek 17.13.

Mattaniah: This name is not found in the list of the kings of Judah because his name was changed to Zedekiah as this verse indicates. In Hebrew the name Mattaniah means “gift of Yahweh.” This king’s new name, Zedekiah, means “Yahweh is my justice.” But the meanings of the names are of lesser importance than the fact that the king’s name was changed. As in 2 Kgs 23.34, the imposition of a new name symbolized the dependence of the king of Judah on the king of Babylonia who had given it to him.

Jehoiachin’s uncle: While this is probably the correct translation, the Hebrew term for uncle has strong connotations of a close, loving relationship that goes beyond mere kinship. It renders the same word that is translated “beloved” in the Song of Songs. In those languages that have different terms for maternal uncle and paternal uncle, translators should use the term for paternal uncle since Zedekiah was a son of Josiah and a younger brother of Jehoiachin’s father Jehoiakim. Note that the Hebrew says only “his uncle,” but Revised Standard Version replaces the pronoun “his” with the proper name Jehoiachin in order to avoid ambiguity.

As in 2 Kgs 23.34, instead of changed his name, it may be more natural in certain languages to say “gave him another name” or “made people call him by a new name.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .