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 the two courts of Yahweh’s house. He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, 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 Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh 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 Kings 21:4-7 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 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 destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. 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 the two courts of Yahweh’s house. He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, 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 Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh 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 cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 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 children of Israel. Yahweh spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has also made Judah to sin with his idols; therefore Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of Ahab’s house; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to all their enemies, because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ”
Parallel Translations
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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 the two courts of Yahweh’s house.
He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, 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 Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh 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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And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
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And he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD said: 'In Jerusalem will I put My name.'
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised soothsaying, and used enchantments, 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 Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which the LORD 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 (58)
- 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…
- 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 19:31 (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.
- 2 Chronicles 7:16 (v7) 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 Samuel 7:13 (vv4, 7) He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Show all 50 cross-references
- 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…
- 1 Kings 7:12 (v5) The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like the inner court of Yahweh’s house and the porch of…
- 1 Kings 9:3 (vv4, 7) 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…
- Jeremiah 32:34 (vv4, 7) But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.
- Leviticus 19:26 (v6) “ ‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
- 2 Kings 16:3 (v6) But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the…
- 2 Chronicles 7:12 (v7) Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself for a house of…
- 2 Kings 23:6 (vv5, 7) 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 Chronicles 33:15 (vv5, 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,…
- Psalms 132:13-14 (vv4, 7) 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…
- Deuteronomy 12:5 (v4) But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you…
- Deuteronomy 16:21 (v7) 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 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…
- 1 Kings 6:36 (v5) He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams.
- 2 Kings 16:10-16 (v4) King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah…
- 2 Kings 21:4 (v7) He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.”
- 2 Kings 23:4 (v5) The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of Yahweh’s…
- 2 Kings 23:12 (v5) The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which…
- 2 Kings 23:27 (v7) Yahweh said, “I will also remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even…
- 2 Chronicles 7:20 (v7) then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, I will…
- 2 Chronicles 33:6 (v6) He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft,…
- 2 Chronicles 33:7 (v7) 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…
- Nehemiah 1:9 (v7) but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will…
- Psalms 78:68-69 (vv4, 7) But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established…
- Genesis 13:13 (v6) Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.
- Exodus 20:24 (v4) You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your…
- Leviticus 20:2-3 (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,…
- 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 9:7 (v7) then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of…
- 2 Kings 24:3-4 (v6) Surely at the commandment of Yahweh this came on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he…
- 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…
- 2 Chronicles 28:3 (v6) 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…
- 2 Chronicles 33:5 (v5) He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house.
- Psalms 74:2 (v7) Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance: Mount Zion, in which…
- 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 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…
- Ezekiel 40:28 (v5) Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate according to these measurements;
- Ezekiel 40:32 (v5) He brought me into the inner court toward the east. He measured the gate according to these measurements;
- Ezekiel 40:37 (v5) Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.
- Ezekiel 40:47 (v5) He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house.
- Ezekiel 42:3 (v5) Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery…
- Ezekiel 43:5 (v5) The Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, Yahweh’s glory filled the house.
- Ezekiel 44:19 (v5) When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister,…
- Micah 6:7 (v6) Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The…
- Acts 16:16 (v6) As we were going to prayer, a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
50 distinct cross-references across this passage (58 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v6 Read 2 Kings 16:3.
Read 2 Kings 16:3.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv4–7 2Ki 21:4 And he built altars in the house…
2Ki 21:4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
Ver. 4. And he built altars in the house of the Lord.] Ahaz-like. {2Ki 16:18} See on 2Ki 21:3.
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.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv4–7 In the house of the Lord, i.e. in the…
In the house of the Lord, i.e. in the temple itself, in the holy place, because this is distinguished from the courts of the house, 2Ki 21:5.
In Jerusalem will I put my name; that place I have peculiarly consecrated to my worship and honour; which made it the greater injustice, and impiety, and sacrilege to alienate it from God, and to dedicate it, or any part of it, especially the temple, to the service of idols, whom God abhorreth.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv4–7 And he built altars in the house of the…
And he built altars in the house of the Lord,.... In the holy place, as distinct from the courts in the next verse; and these were sacred to the idols of the Gentiles:
of which the Lord said, in Jerusalem will I put my name; in the temple there, devoted to his service, called by his name, and where his name was called upon, see Deu 12:5 and to erect altars to idols here must be very abominable to him.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Through the fire - Between two fires, by which…
Through the fire - Between two fires, by which he dedicated him to Molock, in contempt of the seal of circumcision by which he had been dedicated to God. Times - Lucky, or unlucky days according to the superstitious practice of the heathens.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7 Verse 4. Built altars] He placed idolatrous altars even…
Verse 4. Built altars] He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv6–7 2Ki 21:6. He made his son pass through the…
2Ki 21:6. He made his son pass through the fire — By which he dedicated him to Moloch, in contempt of the seal of circumcision by which he had been dedicated to God: see notes on Lev 18:21-22. And observed times — Lucky or unlucky days, according to the superstitious practice of the heathen.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7 The “altars” of this verse seem to be the…
The “altars” of this verse seem to be the same with those of 2Ki 21:5, and consequently were not in the temple building, but in the outer and inner courts.
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 vv4, 6, 7 Altars, in honour of the sun, moon, and stars,…
Altars, in honour of the sun, moon, and stars, (Haydock) in the courts of the priests and of the people, 2 Paralipomenon xxxiii. 4.
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).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–7 the two courts of the house of the Lord--the…
the two courts of the house of the Lord--the court of the priests, and the large court of the people.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv4, 6, 7 4. Built altars in the house of the Lord…
4. Built altars in the house of the Lord — Erected altars to heathen gods even in the temple of Jehovah, as well as in the outer courts, as the next verse informs us.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv4–7 4. he built altars in the house of the…
4. he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which] R.V. whereof &c. It seems most likely that the following verse explains what is meant by this. The altars were in the courts of the temple, not within the temple building. Azariah had intruded himself within the holy place (2Ch_26:16). Even for his most solemn prayer Hezekiah prayed toward the sanctuary. Intrusion within the walls would have been specially noted.
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 vv4–7 (4) He built altars—i.e., idolatrous altars (2Ki_21:5).
(4) He built altars—i.e., idolatrous altars (2Ki_21:5).
In the house of the Lord—i.e., in the two courts of it. This verse contains the general statement of what is particularised in 2Ki_21:5.
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In Jerusalem will I put my name.—See 1Ki_14:21.
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 vv4–7 And he built altars in the house of the…
And he built altars in the house of the Lord. He created, i.e. , altars to other gods in the very temple of Jehovah (see ver. 5). This was a pollution beyond any that either Athaliah or Ahaz had ventured on. Of which the Lord had said, In Jerusalem will I put my Name. (see 1Ki_8:29 1Ki_9:3 1Ki_14:21) Where Jehovah "put his Name," making the place his, and condescending, in a certain sense, to dwell there, it might at least have been expected that he would not find himself confronted with rivals.
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 General Information:
General Information:
The story of King Manasseh's reign continues.
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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)
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)
He caused his son to pass through the fire
You may need to make explicit why he caused his son be put into the fire and what happened after he did so. AT: "He burned his son to death as an offering to his gods" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
consulted with
"asked for information from"
much evil in the sight of Yahweh
The sight of Yahweh represents Yahweh's judgment or evaluation. See how you translated a similar phrase in 2 Kings 3:2. AT: "many things that were evil in Yahweh's judgment" or "many things that Yahweh considers to be evil" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
pagan
house of God
command
name
eternity
court
burnt offering
sorcerer
die
spirit
God
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 v6 21:6 Manasseh’s wickedness included participation in the abominable Molech…
21:6 Manasseh’s wickedness included participation in the abominable Molech rites and all manner of forbidden cult and occult practices (16:3; see Lev 18:21). • the Lord’s . . . anger: God responded to Manasseh’s detestable religious practices with his righteous judgment, just as he had with the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 17:18-20).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.