Pharaohnecho is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Pharaohnecho, also known as Necho II, was a Pharaoh of Egypt. He appears in the King James Bible in a single verse, Jeremiah 46:2, which identifies him as “Pharaohnecho king of Egypt.” The source note tells us that he fought against King Josiah of Judah at the Battle of Megiddo. This places him among the foreign rulers whose dealings with Judah form part of the historical backdrop to the later years of the kingdom of Judah.
The verse in Jeremiah sets the scene for a prophecy against Egypt. It reads: “Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.” Here Pharaohnecho is named as the king whose army was stationed by the Euphrates at Carchemish, and that army was defeated by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon.
What Scripture says of Pharaohnecho is therefore tied to this moment of military encounter. He is named as the leader of Egypt’s army in a campaign that ended in defeat at the hands of Babylon. The verse also anchors the event in time, placing it in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah. Beyond this single reference, the KJV records nothing further about him. His appearance is brief but historically grounded, marking him as a king whose power met its limit before Babylon.
The Name
The name “Pharaohnecho” combines the title “Pharaoh,” the customary designation of Egyptian kings, with the personal name “Necho.” The source note identifies him as Necho II. The meaning of the name “Necho” is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text itself, and the KJV gives no explanation of it. While Egyptian royal names often carried meaning connected to the gods or to the king’s role, we should not invent a meaning for this name where the text does not supply one. It is enough to note that Scripture preserves it as the name by which this king was known.
A Closing Thought
Pharaohnecho appears only once in Scripture, and that single mention records the defeat of his army. It is a quiet reminder that earthly power, however impressive, is not ultimate. A king who once marched toward the Euphrates was brought low by Babylon. Yet even in such brief and sobering references, we are invited to remember that God sees and orders the rise and fall of nations. For the believer, this is not a cause for fear but for trust: the One who governs history also holds His people.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Jeremiah 46:2 — Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.