Boy Old Testament Known
Rezin
good-will; messenger
רְצִין re.tsin
Rezin (Hebrew: רְצִין, re.tsin) means “good-will; messenger”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a king. In 2019 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Appears with Ahaz in 2 Kings 16.
Which Rezin?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Rezin
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Rezin
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 13 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
Based on 2019 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2019 | 5 | Steady |
| All-time total | 5 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 5 in 2019 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 2 Kings 15:37 |
| Last appears | Isaiah 9:11 |
| Cross-references | 222 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Pekah co-occurrence Appears with Pekah in Isaiah 7.
- Remaliah co-occurrence Appears with Remaliah in Isaiah 7.
- Nekoda co-occurrence Appears with Nekoda in Ezra 2.
- Tiglath-pileser co-occurrence Appears with Tiglath-pileser in 2 Kings 16.
- Reaiah co-occurrence Appears with Reaiah in Nehemiah 7.
- Gazzam co-occurrence Appears with Gazzam in Ezra 2.
- Ahaz co-occurrence Appears with Ahaz in 2 Kings 16.
- Jotham co-occurrence Appears with Jotham in Isaiah 7.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.15.37
§ Rezin = "firm"
1) king of Damascus during the reigns of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah
2) the progenitor of a family of temple slaves who returned from captivity with Zerubbabel
Rezin was the king of Aram (Syria) who allied with Pekah, king of Israel, against Ahaz, king of Judah.
The biblical story
Rezin was the king of Aram (Syria) during the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah (2Ki.15.37; 16.5-6, 9; Isa.7.1, 4, 8; 8.6; 9.11). He formed an alliance with Pekah, king of Israel, to attack Judah (Isa.7.1). Their goal was to replace Ahaz with a king who would join their coalition against the growing threat of the Assyrian Empire (Isa.7.6). The alliance between Rezin and Pekah caused great distress to Ahaz and the people of Judah (Isa.7.2). In response, the prophet Isaiah encouraged Ahaz to trust in God and not fear the two "smoldering stubs of firewood" (Isa.7.3-9). Rezin and Pekah's attack on Jerusalem was unsuccessful (2Ki.16.5). However, Rezin was able to capture the city of Elath and drive out the Judahites living there (2Ki.16.6). Ahaz, instead of relying on God, sought help from Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, by sending him tribute (2Ki.16.7-8). Tiglath-pileser responded by attacking Damascus, the capital of Aram. He captured the city, killed Rezin, and deported the Aramean people to Kir (2Ki.16.9). This event fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy about the defeat of Aram and the death of Rezin within 65 years (Isa.7.8-9). The downfall of Rezin and the Aramean kingdom was a significant moment in the history of the region, demonstrating the rising power of the Assyrian Empire and the consequences of forming alliances against God's people.
Key verses
Rezin appears in 9 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
2 Kings 15:37 -
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
2 Kings 16:5 -
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
2 Kings 16:6 -
And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
2 Kings 16:9 -
And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
Isaiah 7:1
Show all 9 references
2 Kings (4)
- 2 Kings 15:37
- 2 Kings 16:5
- 2 Kings 16:6
- 2 Kings 16:9
Isaiah (5)
- Isaiah 7:1
- Isaiah 7:4
- Isaiah 7:8
- Isaiah 8:6
- Isaiah 9:11