2 Kings 21 2

2 Kings 21:2 kjv

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

2 Kings 21:2 nkjv

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

2 Kings 21:2 niv

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 21:2 esv

And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.

2 Kings 21:2 nlt

He did what was evil in the LORD's sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 2 Meaning

2 Kings 21:2 states that King Manasseh, unlike his righteous father Hezekiah, committed evil actions in the judgment of the Lord, adopting and mimicking the detestable practices of the idolatrous nations that the Lord had previously removed from the land before the Israelites. This verse immediately sets the tone for Manasseh's reign as a period of extreme apostasy, highlighting his defiance of Yahweh and adherence to pagan worship and cultic perversions, which were an anathema to God's holiness and covenant commands.

2 Kings 21 2 Context

2 Kings chapter 21 introduces the longest-reigning king of Judah, Manasseh (55 years). His accession follows the devout reign of his father, Hezekiah, who had carried out extensive religious reforms. Therefore, Manasseh's immediate turn to wickedness and active reversal of his father's reforms is especially shocking. Verse 2 specifically outlines the core nature of his wickedness: it was fundamentally rooted in the very practices that Yahweh had explicitly forbidden and for which He had expelled the previous inhabitants of Canaan. This verse establishes the severe spiritual decline under Manasseh, setting the stage for the chronic idolatry and injustice that characterized his rule, and ultimately led to Judah's irreversible judgment and eventual exile. The historical context indicates that the region was largely under Assyrian hegemony, which often brought with it diverse cultic practices, some of which Judah, under Manasseh, readily adopted. This period represents the deepest moral and spiritual degeneration recorded in Judah's history prior to the Babylonian exile.

2 Kings 21 2 Word analysis

• And he did evil (וַיַּעַשׂ הָרָע, wa-yaʿas ha-raʿ): This Hebrew phrase literally means "and he made the evil" or "he did the evil." It is a strong condemnation signifying not just passive sinfulness but active, intentional engagement in what is morally wrong in a foundational sense. The definite article "the" emphasizes the well-defined category of evil in God's eyes, not merely a subjective human opinion. It indicates a clear deviation from God's law and righteous standards.
• in the sight of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה, be-ʿeyney YHWH): This common biblical idiom underscores that God Himself is the judge and observer of actions. "YHWH" (Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, highlighting that Manasseh's actions were a direct affront to the God who had established a special relationship with Israel, revealing His character and demands through the covenant. It's not about human perception or popular opinion but divine, absolute morality.
• according to the abominations (כְּתוֹעֲבוֹת, kə-ṯoʿăvôṯ): "Abominations" (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah) in the Hebrew Bible frequently refers to acts and practices deeply offensive and repugnant to God's holy nature. These often include cultic prostitution, child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, various forms of idolatry, and certain sexual perversions. These practices are considered antithetical to the very essence of Yahweh and His worship. Manasseh wasn't just committing general sins but embracing the most grievous and defiling religious rituals.
• of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed (הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הוֹרִישׁ יְהוָה, ha-ggoyim ʾăšer hôrîš YHWH): This phrase makes a critical theological point. The "nations" (גוֹיִם, goyim) refers to the Canaanites and other indigenous peoples. "Dispossessed" (הוֹרִישׁ, hôrîš, "to inherit, to dispossess, to drive out") reminds Israel that Yahweh, as sovereign Lord, removed these nations from the land because of their abominable practices (Lev 18:24-30). Manasseh's imitation of their sins was, therefore, an audacious disregard for divine justice and a direct challenge to the very basis of Israel's possession of the land. It represented a spiritual regression to the state of those Yahweh judged, implying Judah risked the same fate.
• before the people of Israel (מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, mi-ppəney bəney Yisraʾel): This phrase emphasizes the historical fact of the conquest and highlights that the dispossession was not just an act of God, but an act for the sake of and in front of Israel, intended to be a perpetual warning against idolatry and moral corruption. Manasseh's actions were thus a complete betrayal of Israel's divinely appointed mission and their unique relationship with Yahweh.

2 Kings 21 2 Bonus section

• The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" indicates that while Manasseh's actions might have been politically expedient or popular among certain segments of the population seeking cultural assimilation with surrounding pagan practices, they were fundamentally repugnant to God's immutable character and laws. Human approval held no weight against divine judgment.
• Manasseh's lengthy reign of 55 years (the longest of any king in Judah) meant that several generations were raised under his policies of widespread apostasy, deeply embedding idolatrous practices and weakening the memory of Yahweh worship among the populace. This prolonged exposure to evil practices cemented their hold on the nation.
• The comparison to the dispossessed nations is a polemical statement, underscoring that Israel's identity and privilege rested on their distinction from such nations. By adopting their "abominations," Manasseh blurred the lines, challenging the very purpose of Israel's existence and their divine calling to be a holy nation.
• While 2 Kings focuses solely on Manasseh's wickedness as a key factor in Judah's doom, 2 Chronicles 33 adds the detail of Manasseh's later repentance in Assyrian captivity. However, even this personal repentance did not avert the national judgment, underscoring the severe and widespread impact of his earlier actions on the collective spiritual trajectory of Judah (cf. 2 Kgs 23:26). The damage was too extensive and deeply rooted for Judah to fully recover before the inevitable judgment.

2 Kings 21 2 Commentary

2 Kings 21:2 marks a stark and devastating shift from the religious purity sought by Hezekiah, painting Manasseh as a king whose reign was defined by actions diametrically opposed to God's revealed will. The repeated phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" is a theological verdict, condemning his character and conduct from a divine perspective. The particular emphasis on "the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed" highlights Manasseh's intentional embrace of the very idolatrous, defiling, and perverse practices that warranted the expulsion of the Canaanites. This wasn't incidental sin, but a deliberate reversion to forbidden cults, often involving child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and astral worship, directly rejecting the monotheistic covenant of Yahweh. Manasseh not only permitted these practices but actively promoted them throughout Judah, demonstrating a profound spiritual betrayal that poisoned the national spiritual landscape, laying the groundwork for Judah's eventual destruction, despite a subsequent revival attempt by Josiah. This verse signals the point of no return for Judah's fate.