2 Kings 21 1

2 Kings 21:1 kjv

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 21:1 nkjv

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 21:1 niv

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 21:1 esv

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 21:1 nlt

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 1 Meaning

The first verse of 2 Kings chapter 21 introduces Manasseh, the son and successor of King Hezekiah of Judah. It states that Manasseh began his reign at the tender age of twelve and ruled for an extraordinarily long period of fifty-five years in Jerusalem. Additionally, it provides his mother's name, Hephzibah, a standard detail in the historical accounts of Judahite kings, setting the stage for one of the most infamously wicked reigns in the kingdom's history. This verse is purely factual, serving as a transitional marker and foundational information for the devastating apostasy that follows.

2 Kings 21 1 Context

2 Kings chapter 21 opens the account of Manasseh's reign, immediately following the generally righteous reign of his father, Hezekiah. Hezekiah had implemented significant reforms, removing idolatrous practices and focusing worship back on Yahweh. The historical context shows Judah caught between powerful empires (Assyria dominant, Babylon rising) and frequently tempted by the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations. The previous chapters highlighted Hezekiah's faithfulness, his deliverance from Assyria, and a miraculous extension of his life. This verse serves as a jarring transition, initiating a period of profound national spiritual decline that would eventually lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. The formulaic presentation of the new king's details, especially his age, foreshadows the extent of his later, well-documented apostasy.

2 Kings 21 1 Word analysis

• Manasseh (Hebrew: מְנַשֶּׁה, Menašše): Meaning "causing to forget." This name ironically foreshadows the nation's profound spiritual amnesia and forgetfulness of Yahweh during his exceptionally long and wicked reign. Manasseh was the only son mentioned for Hezekiah, born late in Hezekiah's life after God added 15 years to his life.
• was twelve years old: Manasseh was very young, among the youngest to ascend the throne in Judah (cf. Josiah at 8, Joash at 7). His youth potentially meant he was impressionable, but ultimately, his personal choices led him astray, not merely youthful folly.
• when he became king: Signifies the commencement of his official rule, taking the place of his father Hezekiah.
• and he reigned fifty-five years: An exceptionally long reign for a king in either Israel or Judah, the longest recorded in Judah's history. This extensive period allowed his policies of idolatry and wickedness to become deeply entrenched in the nation's spiritual fabric, profoundly corrupting the people. The long reign paradoxically served to multiply sin rather than to consolidate righteousness.
• in Jerusalem: The capital city, the holy city, where the Temple of the Lord was located. Performing extensive idolatry and even human sacrifice in such a sacred location underscores the depth of Manasseh's rebellion and disregard for God's holiness and covenant.
• His mother's name was Hephzibah (Hebrew: חֶפְצִי־בָהּ, Ḥepṣîḇāh): Meaning "My delight is in her." While standard information for a king's introduction (stressing the queen mother's position), the name's meaning forms a poignant irony. Isaiah 62:4 uses "Hephzibah" metaphorically for Zion (Jerusalem) when God takes delight in her. For the mother of Judah's most wicked king to bear such a name could be a lament, highlighting how far Jerusalem had fallen from being God's delight due to her son's actions.

Words-group analysis

• Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years: This opening phrase establishes the remarkable tenure and youthful accession of a king whose impact would be catastrophic for Judah. It immediately contrasts the personal character with the quantitative facts of his rule. The length of reign is particularly highlighted due to its extreme nature, suggesting a deep, prolonged period of whatever character his reign would possess, which, as subsequent verses show, was utterly evil.
• in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah: These elements ground the reign geographically and genealogically. Jerusalem's designation underscores the profound sacrilege of Manasseh's actions, desecrating the very heart of Yahweh worship. The inclusion of the queen mother's name, Hephzibah, whose name translates to "My delight is in her," carries significant theological irony. This name evokes divine pleasure and favor, particularly associated with Zion/Jerusalem in prophetic literature. Yet, it's the mother of the king who would lead Judah furthest from God, demonstrating how far the people—and their leadership—had drifted from God's delight. This detail indirectly serves as a subtle polemic against the notion of inherent divine favor even in the face of gross apostasy.

2 Kings 21 1 Bonus section

The almost standard introduction for Judahite kings (age at ascension, length of reign, mother's name, capital city) serves not only for historical record but also often hints at the upcoming narrative. For Manasseh, his extremely young age and exceptionally long reign stand out as statistically unusual. While his mother, Hephzibah, holds the standard title of Gebirah (queen mother), whose role often included significant influence, the text gives no explicit indication of her direct influence on his policies. However, the juxtaposition of her name's meaning with her son's evil deeds remains a powerful literary device. Manasseh's reign marks a critical turning point in the biblical narrative of Judah, depicted as the point of no return. Although his grandson Josiah would later attempt a revival, the chronicler portrays Manasseh's sins as so grievous and deep-seated that they irrevocably sealed Judah's fate towards the Babylonian exile. The narrative here implies that even though Manasseh had the greatest opportunity of time to lead the nation well, his personal choices plunged it into depravity, demonstrating the profound impact of leadership on a nation's spiritual trajectory.

2 Kings 21 1 Commentary

2 Kings 21:1 succinctly introduces King Manasseh, preparing the reader for the shocking departure from the righteous path forged by his father Hezekiah. His twelve-year-old ascension to the throne marks him as one of the youngest kings, while his fifty-five-year reign distinguishes him as the longest-ruling king in Judah's history. This extraordinary longevity, instead of signaling divine blessing, would ironically facilitate the most entrenched and pervasive apostasy Judah ever experienced, undoing decades of reform. The detail of his mother's name, Hephzibah, 'My delight is in her,' juxtaposes tragically with Manasseh's reign, which brought Judah to the brink of ruin and ensured God's eventual judgment, contrasting with the promised delight God would once again have in His people and city. The brevity of this verse sets a stark scene for the detailed account of Manasseh's profound wickedness and widespread idolatry that immediately follows.