He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.” He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house. He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger. He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
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2 Chronicles 33:2-7 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.” He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house. He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger. He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. I will not any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses.” Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
Parallel Translations
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He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them.
He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house.
He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
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But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the nations, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD said: 'In Jerusalem shall My name be for ever.'
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practised soothsaying, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and appointed them that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit; he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him.
And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son: 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever;
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (83)
- Deuteronomy 16:21 (v3) You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside Yahweh your God’s altar, which you shall make for yourselves.
- Deuteronomy 17:3 (v3) and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the stars of the sky, which I have not commanded,
- 2 Chronicles 4:9 (v5) Furthermore he made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze.
- 2 Chronicles 7:16 (vv4, 7) For now I have chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.
- 2 Chronicles 28:3 (vv2, 6) Moreover he burned incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the…
Show all 77 cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 (v3) Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the…
- Leviticus 18:21 (v6) “ ‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
- Leviticus 19:26 (v6) “ ‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
- Leviticus 19:31 (v6) “ ‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
- Leviticus 20:6 (v6) “ ‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that…
- Deuteronomy 18:9 (v2) When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations.
- 2 Kings 21:6 (v6) He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with…
- 2 Chronicles 30:14 (v3) They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them into the brook…
- 2 Chronicles 33:4 (v7) He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
- 1 Kings 8:29 (vv4, 7) that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to…
- 2 Chronicles 6:6 (vv4, 7) but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
- Deuteronomy 12:11 (v4) then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that…
- 2 Kings 18:4 (v3) He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had…
- 2 Kings 23:5-6 (v3) He got rid of the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and…
- 1 Chronicles 10:13 (v6) So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked…
- Ecclesiastes 9:18 (v3) Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
- Isaiah 8:19 (v6) When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people…
- Isaiah 47:9-12 (v6) But these two things will come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full…
- Jeremiah 7:31-32 (v6) They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the…
- Jeremiah 19:13 (v3) The houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, which are defiled, will be as the place of Topheth, even all the houses on…
- Zephaniah 1:5 (v3) those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops, those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,
- Deuteronomy 12:31 (vv2, 6) You shall not do so to Yahweh your God; for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, they have done to their gods; for they even burn…
- 2 Chronicles 33:15 (vv4, 7) He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house,…
- Leviticus 18:24-30 (v2) “ ‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled. The land…
- Leviticus 20:2 (v6) “Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel,…
- Leviticus 20:22-23 (v2) “ ‘You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not…
- Leviticus 20:27 (v6) “ ‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be…
- Deuteronomy 4:19 (v3) and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn…
- Deuteronomy 18:10-14 (v6) There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells…
- Deuteronomy 18:14 (v2) For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not…
- Judges 2:11-13 (v3) The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and served the Baals. They abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers,…
- 1 Samuel 15:23 (v6) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has…
- 1 Kings 8:44 (v7) “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which…
- 1 Kings 8:48 (v7) if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you…
- 1 Kings 9:3 (v4) Yahweh said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me. I have made this house holy, which you…
- 1 Kings 11:13 (v7) However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake…
- 1 Kings 11:32 (v7) (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of…
- 1 Kings 14:23 (v3) For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
- 2 Kings 17:11 (v2) and there they burned incense in all the high places, as the nations whom Yahweh carried away before them did; and they did wicked things…
- 2 Kings 17:15 (v2) They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they…
- 2 Kings 17:17 (v6) They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which…
- 2 Kings 21:2 (v2) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
- 2 Kings 21:3 (v3) For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab…
- 2 Kings 21:4-5 (v4) He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” He built altars for all the army of the sky in…
- 2 Kings 21:7-8 (v7) He set the engraved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house,…
- 2 Kings 21:9 (v2) But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom Yahweh destroyed before the…
- 2 Kings 23:6 (v7) He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it…
- 2 Kings 23:10 (v6) He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the…
- 2 Kings 23:11 (v3) He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of Yahweh’s house, by the room of Nathan Melech the…
- 2 Kings 23:24 (v6) Moreover Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were…
- 2 Chronicles 28:2-4 (v3) but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and also made molten images for the Baals. Moreover he burned incense in the valley of…
- 2 Chronicles 32:12 (v3) Hasn’t the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You shall worship before…
- 2 Chronicles 32:19 (v4) They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.
- 2 Chronicles 34:3-4 (v4) For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he…
- 2 Chronicles 36:14 (v2) Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they…
- Ezra 9:14 (v2) shall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until…
- Psalms 78:68 (v7) But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
- Psalms 132:13-14 (v7) For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired…
- Ecclesiastes 2:19 (v3) Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have…
- Isaiah 19:3 (v6) The spirit of Egypt will fail within it. I will destroy its counsel. They will seek the idols, the charmers, those who have familiar…
- Jeremiah 7:30 (v4) “For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight,” says Yahweh. “They have set their abominations in the house which is…
- Jeremiah 8:2 (v3) They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which…
- Jeremiah 15:4 (v2) I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah,…
- Jeremiah 17:2 (v3) Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
- Jeremiah 32:34-35 (v5) But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it. They built the high places of Baal, which are in the…
- Ezekiel 8:7-18 (v5) He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig now in the…
- Ezekiel 11:12 (v2) You will know that I am Yahweh, for you have not walked in my statutes, You have not executed my ordinances, but have done after the…
- Ezekiel 23:37 (v6) For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have also caused their…
- Ezekiel 23:39 (v6) For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and behold, they have…
- Acts 7:42 (v3) But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain…
- Galatians 5:20 (v6) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
- Psalms 106:35-40 (v2) but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. Yes, they sacrificed…
77 distinct cross-references across this passage (83 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (10 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Read 2 Kings 16:3.
Read 2 Kings 16:3.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–7 2Ch 33:2 But did [that which was] evil in…
2Ch 33:2 But did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
Ver. 2. But he did that which was evil.] He quickly made mad Work, as we say, turning all upside down. So great is the loss of good princes, when they die: and so suddenly can God cause the sun to go down over a nation, even at noonday, for the just punishment of such ungrateful wretches as love darkness better than light, because their works are evil. See on 2Ki 21:2.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 7 Verse 3. Altars for Baalim] The SUN and MOON.…
Verse 3. Altars for Baalim] The SUN and MOON. And made groves, אשרות Asheroth, Astarte, VENUS; the host of heaven, all the PLANETS and STARS. These were the general objects of his devotion.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v7 The idol - i. e. the Asherah (2Ki 21:7…
The idol - i. e. the Asherah (2Ki 21:7 note), which receives here (and in Eze 8:3, Eze 8:5) the somewhat unusual name of semel, which some regard as a proper name, and compare with the Greek Σεμέλη Semelē.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 6, 7 The host of heaven. The sun, moon, and stars,…
The host of heaven. The sun, moon, and stars, (Ch.) in imitation of the Phœnicians and ancient Chanaanites.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–7 2. But did … like unto] R.V. And he…
2. But did … like unto] R.V. And he did … after (so 2 Kin.).
had cast out] R.V. cast out (so 2 Kin.). The Hebrew of 2Ch_33:2 exactly corresponds in Chron. and 2 Kin.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 6, 7 (3) For.—And. (See margin.)
(3) For.—And. (See margin.)
Broken down.—2Ch_23:17; 2Ch_31:1 (“threw down”). Kings has “destroyed” (‘ibbad).
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Baalim.—The Baals—i.e., the different images of Baal. Kings has the singular, both here and in the next word, “groves,” or rather Asheras (‘Ashçrôth; Kings, ‘Ashçrah). The latter plural is rhetorical: Manasseh made such things as Asheras. (Comp. also the use of the plural in 2Ch_32:31, and the passages there referred to.) Kings adds: “as Ahab king of Israel made.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 4, 6, 7 The abominations of the heathen. (see Deu_18:9-14)
The abominations of the heathen. (see Deu_18:9-14)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 7 It is in Jerusalem that my name will be…
It is in Jerusalem that my name will be forever
The name is a metonym for the person. AT: "Jerusalem is where I will forever make known who I am" (See: Metonymy)
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He built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh
It is implied that he built these altars so people could make sacrifices and worship the stars. Also, he would not have built these altars himself, rather he would have commanded his workers to do it. AT: "He had his workers build altars in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh so that the people could worship the stars and offer them sacrifices" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metonymy)
Valley of Ben Hinnom
This is the name of a place near Jerusalem that is also known as Gehenna. (See: How to Translate Names)
he caused his sons to pass through the fire
You may need to make explicit why he put his son in the fire and what happened after he did so. AT: "he burned his sons to death as an offering to his gods" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
consulted with
"asked for information from"
the dead
This refers to dead people. AT: "dead people" or "those who are dead" (See: Nominal Adjectives)
Manasseh did much evil in the sight of Yahweh
Here Yahweh's "sight" refers to how he judges or decides on the value of something. See how you translated a similar phrase in 2 Chronicles 14:2. AT: "Manasseh did many things that Yahweh said were evil" or "He practiced the things that Yahweh considered evil" (See: Metaphor)
he provoked him to anger
"Manasseh made Yahweh very angry"
translationWords
pagan
altar
house of God
name
command
eternity
heaven
court
sorcerer
spirit
anger
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v7 33:7 The carved idol was an image of Asherah…
33:7 The carved idol was an image of Asherah (see 2 Kgs 21:7).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.