2 Chronicles 33 15

2 Chronicles 33:15 kjv

And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

2 Chronicles 33:15 nkjv

He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem; and he cast them out of the city.

2 Chronicles 33:15 niv

He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the LORD, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.

2 Chronicles 33:15 esv

And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city.

2 Chronicles 33:15 nlt

Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD's Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city.

2 Chronicles 33 verses

2 Chronicles 33 15 Meaning

2 Chronicles 33:15 describes Manasseh's tangible acts of repentance following his humiliation and prayer. It details his purging of the Jerusalem temple and the city from the widespread idolatry and abominations he had introduced during his earlier reign. This removal of foreign gods, the idol (likely Asherah), and pagan altars, explicitly from the sacred House of the Lord, its mountain, and then casting them out of the city, signifies a radical and public reversal of his profound wickedness and a return to the worship of the one true God.

2 Chronicles 33 15 Context

This verse falls within the narrative of King Manasseh's reign (2 Chr 33:1-20), one of the most infamously wicked kings in Judah's history, whose evil surpassed even that of the nations God had driven out (v. 2, 9). He rebuilt pagan high places, erected altars to Baal and Asherah, worshipped the stars, practiced child sacrifice, divination, and even placed an idol within the sacred precincts of the Lord's Temple itself. God's judgment came upon him, and he was taken captive to Babylon (v. 10-11). It is in Babylon that Manasseh truly humbles himself, seeks the Lord in repentance, and is miraculously restored to his throne (v. 12-14). Verse 15 is the immediate consequence and outward demonstration of that genuine, heart-felt repentance. His actions are a complete reversal of his previous transgressions, indicating a real transformation of heart, which the Chronicler particularly emphasizes, offering a powerful example of divine grace and forgiveness. This purging sets the stage for further reforms, including repairing the Lord's altar and offering sacrifices (v. 16).

2 Chronicles 33 15 Word analysis

• He also removed (וַיָּסַר wa-yāsar):

  • Hebrew root: סוּר (sûr) meaning "to turn aside," "to take away," "to remove," "to put away."
  • Significance: This is an active, decisive, and deliberate action by Manasseh. It's not passive, but a clear effort to undo his past sins. The verb choice implies a physical cleansing.

• the foreign gods (אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר elohê ha-nekār):

  • Lit. "gods of the stranger" or "gods of the foreigner."
  • Significance: Emphasizes that these deities are alien and anathema to the worship of Yahweh, Israel's God. They represent pagan polytheism imported from surrounding nations. Their presence signifies spiritual adultery against the covenant with God.

• and the idol (וְהַפֶּסֶל ve-ha-pesel):

  • Hebrew term: פֶּסֶל (pesel), meaning "carved image," "graven image," or "idol."
  • Significance: This specifically refers to a physical statue, likely the cultic image of Asherah that Manasseh had brazenly placed within the House of the Lord (2 Chr 33:7). Its removal is a direct purification of the most sacred space.

• from the house of the Lord (מִבֵּית יְהוָה mi-bêt YHWH):

  • Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Significance: The primary place of worship for Yahweh, which Manasseh had desecrated. Cleansing it first demonstrates his reverence for God's holy dwelling. This location was meant to be exclusive to God's presence.

• and all the altars (וְכָל הַמִּזְבְּחֹות ve-kāl ha-mizběḥôt):

  • Hebrew term: מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeaḥ), meaning "altar," a place of sacrifice.
  • Significance: Manasseh had built numerous altars in direct violation of God's command for centralized worship. The plural indicates the widespread nature of his idolatry.

• that he had built (אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה 'ăšer bānâ):

  • Significance: Explicitly highlights Manasseh's personal responsibility for constructing these abominations, making his removal of them an even more poignant act of reversal and ownership of his sin.

• in the mountain of the house of the Lord (בְּהַר בֵּית יְהוָה be-har bêt YHWH):

  • Refers to Mount Moriah, where the Temple stood.
  • Significance: Extends the purification from the inner temple chambers to the sacred outer courts and environs of the Temple Mount. This emphasizes a broad spiritual cleaning of the sacred precinct.

• and in Jerusalem (וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם u-bîrûšālayim):

  • Significance: Broadens the scope of cleansing beyond the immediate Temple area to the entire capital city. This indicates a public, national turning from sin, beginning at the highest civic and religious level. Manasseh's influence for evil had extended throughout the city, and now his repentance brings restoration to it.

• and he cast them out of the city (וַיַּשְׁלִךְ מִחוּץ לָעִיר wa-yyašlîk mi-ḥûṣ lā-'îr):

  • Hebrew root: שָׁלַךְ (šālak) meaning "to throw," "to cast," "to hurl." "Out of the city" (מיחוץ לעיר mi-ḥūṣ lā-'îr).
  • Significance: This signifies complete and utter rejection. To "cast out" emphasizes disdain and treating these objects as detestable. They are removed beyond the clean, consecrated bounds of the holy city, demonstrating a radical spiritual purification and a decisive break with past sin. This action aligns with the Deuteronomic command to abhor and utterly detest idols (Deut 7:26).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord": This phrase directly addresses the desecration of God's holy dwelling. The juxtaposition of "foreign gods" (general pagan deities) and "the idol" (specific image, likely Asherah) highlights the comprehensive nature of his idolatry and now his comprehensive purging. It emphasizes the reversal of his most offensive act—the defilement of the Temple.
  • "all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem": This phrase underlines the extent of Manasseh's idolatrous infrastructure. His sin wasn't confined to personal practice but had become a public, institutionalized blight upon the entire religious and civic landscape. His removal of these altars signifies the dismantling of the very structures that facilitated idolatry throughout the land, publicly disavowing his former reign's core practices.
  • "and he cast them out of the city": This final act represents a decisive break and ultimate purification. It's not just removal from holy sites but an expulsion from the community's sacred space altogether. It illustrates that true repentance demands not merely stopping sin but actively expelling its remnants and influence, mirroring a physical separation from all defilement.

2 Chronicles 33 15 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s particular emphasis on Manasseh's repentance and its subsequent actions (2 Chr 33:12-16), compared to the more condemnation-focused account in 2 Kings 21, serves a crucial theological purpose. It highlights God’s immeasurable grace and willingness to forgive even the worst transgressors, offering hope and encouragement to the post-exilic community facing similar challenges of spiritual apostasy. This narrative serves as a testament that no one is beyond God's reach for forgiveness and restoration if they truly humble themselves and turn to Him. Manasseh’s acts in this verse signify not just religious reform but a covenant renewal, aligning himself and the city once more with God's law. The "casting out of the city" mirrors the purity laws regarding unclean things, underscoring the spiritual defilement idols brought and the need for their complete separation from a holy people. This was a public act intended to send a strong message of commitment to Yahweh.

2 Chronicles 33 15 Commentary

2 Chronicles 33:15 is a pivotal verse in Manasseh's narrative, acting as undeniable proof of his profound repentance, which the Chronicler highlights in contrast to the Kings account. Manasseh, once the epitome of wickedness who filled Jerusalem with idolatry, pollution, and innocent blood, now meticulously reverses his previous actions. This cleansing is not a minor reform but a public, systematic purging starting from the holiest place – the Temple itself – and extending throughout Jerusalem. The very items he consecrated to pagan gods (the idol and altars) he now condemns and casts out, emphasizing that genuine repentance results in tangible deeds that demonstrate a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. His thoroughness underscores that God's forgiveness is met with a sincere effort to align one's life with His will, actively removing all that dishonors Him. This act foreshadows Josiah's later, more complete, reformation (2 Kgs 23), but within Manasseh's story, it offers a powerful message of grace: even the most depraved sinner can find forgiveness and be used to begin the restoration process, provided true repentance is evident through humble and transformative action.Examples for practical usage:

• Acknowledging and removing personal "idols" (things replacing God in our lives) is essential for genuine faith.
• True repentance isn't just saying sorry, but actively changing behavior and undoing harm where possible.
• Spiritual purification involves thoroughly casting out all forms of sin and ungodliness from one's life and environment.