2 Kings 21 11

2 Kings 21:11 kjv

Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:

2 Kings 21:11 nkjv

"Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations ( he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols),

2 Kings 21:11 niv

"Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols.

2 Kings 21:11 esv

"Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,

2 Kings 21:11 nlt

"King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 11 Meaning

This verse declares God's righteous judgment against King Manasseh of Judah. It asserts that Manasseh's actions were abominable, particularly his extensive idolatry and wicked deeds. His guilt was amplified because he surpassed even the pre-Israelite pagan inhabitants (the Amorites) in depravity, and crucially, because he actively led the entire nation of Judah into grievous sin through his promotion of false worship and idols. This profound spiritual corruption, orchestrated by the king, warranted severe divine consequence.

2 Kings 21 11 Context

This verse is the LORD's pronouncement through His servants, the prophets, articulating the definitive reason for the impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, explicitly detailed in 2 Kings 21:12-15. It follows a detailed account (2 Kgs 21:2-9) of King Manasseh's reign, which spanned 55 years and represents the antithesis of his father, Hezekiah's, righteous rule. Manasseh actively reintroduced and promoted pagan worship throughout Judah, re-establishing high places, erecting altars to Baal and the starry hosts, engaging in child sacrifice to Molech, practicing divination, and even placing an idolatrous Asherah image within the very Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem—a gross desecration. The comparison to the Amorites underscores the severity: Israel, as God's covenant people, had been given the land after the original inhabitants were expelled for their "abominations." For an Israelite king to exceed their wickedness was a profound act of spiritual rebellion and covenant infidelity, making their fate mirror that of the Amorites.

Historically, Manasseh reigned during a period of Assyrian hegemony. While some suggest his idolatry was influenced by Assyrian cults, it fundamentally represented a national return to polytheism and practices explicitly forbidden by the LORD. His extended reign cemented these detestable practices into the national consciousness, making a deep-seated impact that subsequent reforms would struggle to overturn entirely.

2 Kings 21 11 Word analysis

• Because (יַעַן, ya’an): This is a causal conjunction, emphasizing that God's forthcoming judgment is not arbitrary but a direct and justified consequence of Manasseh's actions. It signifies a divine response directly proportional to human transgression.
• Manasseh king of Judah: Specifies the individual holding the highest office, thus underscoring his immense responsibility. A king's actions profoundly affect the nation he governs, serving as a spiritual leader, either for good or ill. His kingship magnified his sin's impact.
• has committed these abominations (עָשָׂה הַתּוֹעֵבֹת הָאֵלֶּה, ‘asah hatta‘ēbôt hā’ēlleh):
  • Abominations (תּוֹעֵבֹת, to‘ebôt): This strong Hebrew term denotes something utterly detestable, repulsive, and morally repugnant in the sight of God. In biblical usage, it refers primarily to idolatry, child sacrifice, sexual perversions, and divination. The plural "these abominations" refers back to the specific details in 2 Kgs 21:2-9 (e.g., child sacrifice, witchcraft, setting up an Asherah in the Temple), which directly violate divine law and covenant.
  • Committed: Implies deliberate and active participation, not mere passive neglect.
• and has done wickedly (וַיַּרְשַׁע, wayyarēsha‘): A strong verb indicating active, intentional wrongdoing, to be evil or unrighteous. It conveys not just moral failing but a deliberate turning away from righteousness. This highlights the breadth and depth of Manasseh's corruption.
• above all that the Amorites did: This is a powerful and damning comparative statement. The Amorites were one of the indigenous Canaanite peoples whose extreme depravity led to their expulsion from the Promised Land (e.g., Lev 18:24-30). To exceed their wickedness, despite possessing God's Law and the benefits of a covenant relationship, represented a profound betrayal and ultimate insult to the LORD. It signaled Judah's moral degradation to a level beyond even nations living without divine revelation, justifying similar judgment.
• who were before him: Refers to the original inhabitants of Canaan dispossessed by Israel due to their sin.
• and has made Judah also to sin (וַיַּחֲטִא גַם־אֶת־יְהוּדָה, wayyachati’ gam-’et-yehudah):
  • Made Judah to sin: This uses the causative form of the Hebrew verb chata’ (to sin), indicating that Manasseh actively caused or led the entire nation into transgression. His influence was corrupting and far-reaching, transforming national practice. This aspect makes his sin particularly grave, as it wasn't merely personal, but systemic and communal.
  • Also: Emphasizes that Judah was drawn into sin alongside Manasseh's own actions.
• with his idols (בְּגִלּוּלָיו, begillulāw):
  • Idols (גִּלּוּלִים, gillulim): This is a highly contemptuous and derogatory term for idols, possibly meaning "dung-pellets" or "shapeless lumps" – indicating worthlessness, filth, and utter detestableness in God's eyes. It underscores God's scorn for these lifeless objects of worship. It implies the futility and vileness of what Manasseh compelled Judah to embrace.

2 Kings 21 11 Bonus section

• Irreversibility of National Sin: While Manasseh personally repented later in his life according to 2 Chr 33:10-19, leading to a personal restoration, the cumulative effect of his half-century reign of apostasy had a national impact so deep-seated that even Josiah's subsequent reforms (2 Kgs 23) could not fully eradicate it, as God had decreed (Jer 15:4). This highlights the principle that even if individual repentance occurs, profound corporate sin can still incur national judgment.
• Divine Patience and Warning: Prior to this definitive pronouncement, the LORD sent prophets to Manasseh and Judah, but they refused to listen (2 Kgs 21:10). This verse, therefore, represents the culmination of neglected warnings, serving as a sober reminder of God's patience but also the inevitable consequence of persistent, covenantal rebellion.
• Typology: The expulsion of the Amorites serves as a prophetic pattern and warning. Just as God cleared the land of the Canaanites for their abominations, so too would Israel be expelled if they embraced the same detestable practices. Manasseh ensured this would happen.

2 Kings 21 11 Commentary

2 Kings 21:11 stands as God's profound justification for the judgment declared upon Judah, stemming from the catastrophic spiritual decline engineered by King Manasseh. His wickedness was not merely personal but was deeply ingrained in the national fabric. Manasseh did not just dabble in abominable practices; he established and promoted them systemically throughout Judah and within the very precincts of the Temple. His transgression was egregious on two major fronts: first, by engaging in acts such as child sacrifice and direct idolatry that were explicitly defined as detestable (abominations) by God's Law. Second, by surpassing the wickedness of the Amorites, the very peoples whose profound iniquity had led to their expulsion from the land. For a covenant people, led by their king, to exceed the depravity of pagan nations showed an alarming and contemptuous rejection of their unique relationship with Yahweh. Moreover, the verse emphasizes his causative role in making Judah sin, underscoring the severe spiritual accountability of leadership. A king's apostasy ripple-effected across the nation, demonstrating that leadership choices have corporate, spiritual ramifications leading to communal consequences. This collective, profound rejection of God's covenant was ultimately judged through the ensuing national disaster of exile.