2 Kings 21 21

2 Kings 21:21 kjv

And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:

2 Kings 21:21 nkjv

So he walked in all the ways that his father had walked; and he served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them.

2 Kings 21:21 niv

He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them.

2 Kings 21:21 esv

He walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them.

2 Kings 21:21 nlt

He followed the example of his father, worshiping the same idols his father had worshiped.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 21 Meaning

2 Kings 21:21 describes the reign of King Amon of Judah, highlighting his adherence to the same wicked practices as his father Manasseh. It specifically states that Amon followed Manasseh's path of rampant idolatry, actively serving and worshipping the false gods his father had introduced. This verse underscores the pervasive and destructive influence of Manasseh's earlier reign, despite Manasseh's own later repentance recorded in Chronicles. Amon's brief kingship continued Judah's spiritual apostasy and accelerated its decline towards divine judgment.

2 Kings 21 21 Context

2 Kings 21:21 is found within the short narrative describing the reign of Amon, King of Judah (2 Kings 21:19-26). Amon, the son of Manasseh, ascended the throne after his father's death. This verse immediately follows the declaration that Amon did "what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done" (2 Kgs 21:20).

The broader historical context is critical: Manasseh had reigned for 55 years (the longest reign in Judah), bringing Judah to its spiritual nadir by re-introducing and promoting all forms of Canaanite and pagan worship, including child sacrifice and astral worship, even within the Temple precincts (2 Kgs 21:1-9). While 2 Chronicles 33 records Manasseh's later repentance, humiliation, and return to Yahweh, this repentance is noticeably absent from the 2 Kings account, which focuses on his overall and lasting negative influence on Judah's spiritual fabric, particularly on his son Amon. Amon's continuation of Manasseh's original idolatrous practices cemented Judah's unfaithfulness, demonstrating that Manasseh's reforms (if any substantial were done after repentance beyond Temple cleansing in Chronicles) did not fundamentally alter the heart of his kingdom or his successor.

2 Kings 21 21 Word analysis

• And he walked (וַיֵּלֶךְ - wayyelekh):
  • Word: Root halakh (הָלַךְ).
  • Significance: Not merely physical movement, but a common biblical idiom referring to one's conduct, lifestyle, and manner of life. It implies intentional and consistent adherence to a particular path or set of principles. When used in connection with God's commandments (e.g., "walked in His statutes"), it signifies obedience; here, it signifies following a specific pattern of ungodliness.
  • System Knowledge: This phrasing frequently appears in describing kings, establishing whether their reign was righteous ("walked in the way of David") or wicked ("walked in the way of Jeroboam").
• in all the way (בְּכָל־הַדֶּרֶךְ - b'khol-hadderekh):
  • Word: kol (כָּל) "all" or "every"; derekh (דֶּרֶךְ) "way" or "path."
  • Significance: The Hebrew "all" (כָּל) emphasizes totality and completeness. Amon did not partially adopt Manasseh's ways but fully embraced every aspect of his father's evil conduct. It suggests a thorough and pervasive embrace of sin.
  • System Knowledge: Highlights that Amon replicated the entirety of Manasseh's earlier apostasy, indicating a deliberate and full rejection of Yahweh.
• that his father had walked (אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ אָבִיו - 'asher halakh 'aviv):
  • Word: 'av (אָב) "father."
  • Significance: "His father" is Manasseh. This phrase links Amon's actions directly to Manasseh's previous example. Critically, it refers to Manasseh's long period of idolatry, not his later repentance which is a crucial distinction made clear by 2 Chronicles. It signifies a negative legacy and pattern.
  • System Knowledge: Points to the deep entrenchment of sin and its transmission through generations, especially in positions of power. Manasseh's corrupting influence lingered even if he himself repented.
• and served (וַיַּעֲבֹד - vayya'avod):
  • Word: Root 'avad (עָבַד) "to serve," "to work," "to worship."
  • Significance: This verb implies more than mere passive observation; it denotes active, devoted, and even laborious service. It's the same word used for serving God. Here, it underscores a deep commitment and allegiance to the idols, almost like being a slave to them.
  • System Knowledge: In the biblical context, "serving" foreign gods is always contrasted with serving the one true God, highlighting the exclusive nature of true worship.
• the idols (הָאֱלִילִם - ha'elilim):
  • Word: 'elilim (אֱלִילִים) "worthless ones," "no-gods," "idols."
  • Significance: This is a derogatory term for false gods or idols in Hebrew, often implying their powerlessness and vanity. It directly contrasts with Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), the living God. These "idols" would have included Baal, Asherah, and celestial bodies worshipped during Manasseh's reign.
  • System Knowledge: The term is polemical, emphasizing the emptiness and nothingness of false gods in contrast to Yahweh's real power and existence, debunking their claims to deity. It directly attacks the core belief in their power.
• that his father had served (אֲשֶׁר עָבַד אָבִיו - 'asher 'avad 'aviv):
  • Significance: This reiterates and specifically ties Amon's serving of idols back to Manasseh's specific idolatries, solidifying the idea of continuity in ungodliness. It's not just Manasseh's general way of life, but his specific spiritual rebellion.
• and worshiped them (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לָהֶם - vayyishtachawu lahem):
  • Word: Root shachah (שָׁחָה) "to bow down," "to prostrate oneself."
  • Significance: This term describes the physical act of bowing down, signifying deep reverence, submission, and adoration. It is the ultimate expression of worship and surrender. By Amon bowing down to these "worthless ones," it illustrates his complete and utter devotion to them, displacing Yahweh.
  • System Knowledge: This act is a direct violation of the First and Second Commandments and is often cited as the pinnacle of idolatrous practice, highlighting an open defiance of God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he walked in all the way that his father had walked": This phrase stresses the full and complete imitation of Amon after his father's prior conduct, highlighting the perpetuation of evil ways. It is a damning summary of his short reign, prioritizing human influence over divine guidance.
• "and served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them": This segment precisely details the nature of Amon's evil as profound religious apostasy. "Served" indicates active allegiance, while "worshiped them" (prostration) indicates profound, sacrificial devotion, mirroring the absolute dedication due only to the true God. This comprehensive description reveals not mere tolerance but fervent engagement with idolatry, confirming a deliberate abandonment of the covenant.

2 Kings 21 21 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between Manasseh's depicted repentance in 2 Chronicles and Amon's following of his father's earlier ways in 2 Kings, serves as a theological statement about the profound impact of negative parental influence and the deep entrenchment of sin once it has taken root in a society. While repentance can change a personal destiny, reversing widespread spiritual corruption and its effects on succeeding generations remains a profound challenge, particularly for those whose formation was steeped in the very sins the parent later rejected.
• The brevity of Amon's reign (two years) juxtaposed with his immediate and full adoption of idolatry underscores the powerful magnetic pull of false worship once a society has been conditioned to it. It shows that reversing a culture of idolatry requires sustained and devoted effort (as seen in Josiah's reign), and that even a partial and late personal repentance may not be enough to eradicate its systemic influence on the next generation.
• The "idols" served were not abstract concepts. Manasseh had reintroduced cults associated with Baal and Asherah, which involved sexual rites, and crucially, "sacrificed his son" (2 Kgs 21:6), referring to the horrific practice of child sacrifice to Molech or similar deities. Amon’s "all the way" likely encompassed such detestable practices, illustrating the depth of moral decay intertwined with religious apostasy.
• The phrase "served... and worshipped them" reveals two distinct aspects of idolatry: "serving" implies active labor, rituals, or commitment, whereas "worshiping" (bowing down) speaks of submission and reverence. Amon demonstrated both: he was an active devotee and completely subjugated to these false deities.

2 Kings 21 21 Commentary

2 Kings 21:21 tersely encapsulates the essence of King Amon's two-year reign: a thorough regression to the depths of idolatry seen during his father Manasseh's early, most wicked years. The text highlights Amon's complete embrace of this path ("all the way"), showing an uninterrupted transmission of apostasy, unhindered by any possible good influence of Manasseh's eventual repentance (a detail emphasized in 2 Chronicles, though largely omitted in 2 Kings, which focuses on the king's long-term legacy of sin for Judah). Amon's reign demonstrates that evil legacies can endure and re-emerge, especially when they take deep root within a nation's leadership and culture.

Amon's actions, defined by actively "serving" and "worshipping" pagan "idols," speak of deliberate and dedicated devotion, not a casual dalliance with foreign gods. This intensified Judah's spiritual corruption, illustrating a deep-seated rejection of Yahweh despite the nation's covenant relationship. The ease and swiftness with which Amon fully re-established this wickedness immediately after Manasseh's death point to the pervasive spiritual disease within Judah. It underscores the profound difficulty in reversing generations of institutionalized apostasy and the quick erosion of any brief period of partial reform. Amon's destructive path directly contributed to the cumulative sin of Judah that ultimately led to the Babylonian exile, a tragic consequence of leadership choosing human depravity over divine truth.