2 Chronicles 33 13

2 Chronicles 33:13 kjv

And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

2 Chronicles 33:13 nkjv

and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

2 Chronicles 33:13 niv

And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

2 Chronicles 33:13 esv

He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

2 Chronicles 33:13 nlt

And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God!

2 Chronicles 33 verses

2 Chronicles 33 13 Meaning

The verse recounts Manasseh's transformative experience: in his dire affliction, he turned to God in earnest prayer. In response, the LORD was receptive to his entreaty, heard his fervent supplication, and remarkably restored him to his rightful place as king in Jerusalem. Consequently, Manasseh attained a profound, experiential knowledge that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is indeed the one true God.

2 Chronicles 33 13 Context

Chapter 33 details the reign of Manasseh, Hezekiah's son, beginning with an unparalleled catalogue of wickedness. Manasseh systematically reversed all the righteous reforms of his father. He rebuilt pagan high places, erected altars to Baal, worshiped the sun, moon, and stars, built altars for all the host of heaven in the Temple courts, practiced child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, and consulted mediums. His actions exceeded the abominations of the nations Israel dispossessed. His sin was so grievous it defiled Jerusalem and led Judah astray, causing them to do worse than the surrounding peoples.

Because of this profound unfaithfulness, the LORD brought against him the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. This historical event places Manasseh within the period of Assyrian hegemony. Assyria, under rulers like Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, frequently subdued and deported vassal kings as a display of power and to secure loyalty. In this dire captivity and affliction, separated from his kingdom and utterly humiliated, Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, crying out to Him. Verse 13 immediately follows this repentance, illustrating God's readiness to respond even to the most sinful king when genuine contrition is shown. His restoration, then, is not merely political but serves as a profound divine affirmation of his changed heart.

2 Chronicles 33 13 Word analysis

• and prayed unto him: ויחתפל (wai·yit·ḥap·pel). This verb is the Hitpael conjugation of the root palal (פָּלַל), which means "to intervene, to intercede, to pray." The Hitpael stem denotes a reflexive or intensive action, indicating that Manasseh actively, perhaps persistently and with great self-humbling, placed himself in a position of entreaty before God. It suggests a profound and deeply personal turning.
• and he was intreated of him: ויעתר (wai·ya·'atar). This is the Niphal conjugation of 'atar (עָתַר), which means "to pray, to entreat." In the Niphal, it translates to "to be entreated," "to allow oneself to be prevailed upon," or "to listen favorably." This highlights God's receptiveness and willingness to respond to Manasseh's desperate appeal. It denotes that God turned His ear and heart towards Manasseh.
• and heard his supplication: וישמע תְּחִנָּתוֹ (wai·yish·ma' tə·ḥin·nā·tōw). Wai·yish·ma' comes from shema (שָׁמַע), "to hear" or "to listen," often implying attentive hearing that leads to action. Tə·ḥin·nā·tōw derives from chanan (חָנַן), "to show favor," and refers specifically to a "supplication" or "plea for grace." It was not just any prayer, but an earnest petition rooted in a request for mercy and favor, which God actively perceived and understood.
• and brought him again: וישב (wai·ya·shēv). This is the Hiphil conjugation of shuv (שׁוּב), "to turn, to return." In the Hiphil, it means "to cause to return" or "to restore." This emphatically states that it was God's direct and sovereign action that led to Manasseh's restoration, not political maneuverings or human effort. It was a miraculous reversal orchestrated by divine will.
• to Jerusalem into his kingdom: The precise naming of the location and status signifies a full restoration not only physically but politically, affirming God's power over rulers and nations, and His faithfulness to His covenant, even in severe discipline.
• Then Manasseh knew: וַיֵּדַע (wa·yyē·ḏaʿ). This is the Qal conjugation of yada (יָדַע), "to know." In this context, yada conveys more than intellectual apprehension; it signifies a deep, experiential, and intimate knowledge or recognition. Manasseh’s understanding of God became real and transformative, forged in suffering and divine deliverance.
• that the LORD he was God: יהוה הוא האלהים (YHWH hu ha-Elohim). This is a foundational theological affirmation. YHWH is the covenant name of God, unique to Israel, denoting His personal, relational, and active presence. Hu is "He," an emphatic pronoun. Ha-Elohim is "the God," referring to the one true divine being. The phrase emphatically declares YHWH as the sole, ultimate, and true divine authority, contrasting sharply with all the false gods Manasseh previously worshiped.

Words-group analysis:

• "and prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication": This sequence reveals the reciprocal divine-human dynamic: human humility and fervent prayer evoke divine mercy and responsiveness. It underlines God's character as One who hears and acts on behalf of those who sincerely seek Him, even after grave transgression.
• "and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom": This phrase showcases the radical and supernatural nature of God's grace and power. A king removed in ignominy and shame is sovereignly reinstalled, providing irrefutable proof of the God to whom he prayed. This restoration is an undeniable demonstration of God's control over human history and destinies.
• "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God": This culmination of the sequence is the theological turning point. The experiential restoration led directly to a profound, unwavering, and transforming knowledge of God's true identity and absolute sovereignty. It demonstrates that God's purpose in affliction and subsequent deliverance is often to bring about this intimate recognition of Himself.

2 Chronicles 33 13 Bonus section

• The Chronicler's emphasis on Manasseh's repentance and restoration provides a unique perspective not fully detailed in the parallel account in 2 Kings. This narrative serves the Chronicler's theological agenda: to underscore God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant and His readiness to respond to national (through the king's actions) or individual repentance, regardless of the severity of past transgressions.
• Manasseh's experience validates the principle found in Deuteronomy 4:29-31, which states that if people turn to God and seek Him with all their heart and soul in distress, they will find Him, because God is a merciful God.
• The severity of Manasseh's previous sins makes his subsequent "knowing" of God exceptionally significant. It's not a superficial acknowledgment but a deep conviction born out of direct, painful experience and divine intervention. This knowing profoundly altered his life, as evidenced by his subsequent actions, which included purging idolatry and encouraging Judah to serve the LORD (2 Chr 33:15-16).
• Manasseh's story teaches that even those who fall furthest from God can find the path back to Him, and God is willing to forgive and restore what was seemingly lost, demonstrating His boundless patience and love.

2 Chronicles 33 13 Commentary

2 Chronicles 33:13 stands as a monumental testament to God's unfathomable grace and the transformative power of genuine repentance. Manasseh, arguably the most wicked king in Judah's history, whose idolatry and abominations were said to surpass even those of the nations dispossessed by Israel, experienced the severe hand of divine discipline through Assyrian captivity. It was in this nadir of humiliation that he, prompted by profound distress, humbled himself before the LORD and prayed. God's response was swift and definitive: He was entreated, heard Manasseh's heartfelt supplication, and miraculously restored him to his kingdom. This unprecedented act of restoration served as undeniable proof to Manasseh – and to the Chronicler's audience – that YHWH, the God of Israel, is the one true and living God, sovereign over all earthly kingdoms. This verse illustrates that no sin is too great, and no heart too hardened, for God's redemptive power and readiness to forgive when sincere contrition and confession are present. It serves as a powerful beacon of hope, assuring believers that God hears the cries of the repentant and offers new beginnings.