The Idolatry of Manasseh

2 Kings 21

Manasseh reigns in Judah and undoes his father's reforms, rebuilding high places, erecting altars to foreign gods within the temple itself, practicing divination, and shedding much innocent blood, provoking the Lord to pronounce coming judgment on Jerusalem. His son Amon succeeds him, walks in the same evil ways, and is killed by his own servants, after which the people make Josiah king in his place.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonMANASSES was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Apsiba.

BrentonManasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Apsiba.

GreekΥἱὸς δώδεκα ἐτῶν Μανασσὴς ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτόν, καὶ πεντήκοντα καὶ πέντε ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ Ἁψιβά.

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

JPSManasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzi-bah.

ThomsonAnd he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all the abominable acts of the nations which the Lord had removed from before Israel.

BrentonAnd he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου, κατὰ τὰ βδελύγματα τῶν ἐθνῶν ὧν ἐξῆρε Κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd 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.

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

ThomsonHe restored and rebuilt the high places which his father Ezekias had demolished; and erected an altar to Baal; and made bowers as Achab king of Israel had done; and worshipped the whole host of heaven and served them.

BrentonAnd he built again the high places, which Ezekias his father had demolished; and set up an altar to Baal, and made groves as Achaab king of Israel made them; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψε καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τὰ ὑψηλὰ ἃ κατέσπασεν Ἑζεκίας ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέστησε θυσιαστήριον τῇ Βάαλ, καὶ ἐποίησε τὰ ἄλση καθὼς ἐποίησεν Ἀχαὰβ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ, καὶ προσεκύνησε πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἐδούλευσεν αὐτοῖς.

KJVFor he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

JPSFor he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

ThomsonHe even built an altar in the house of the Lord. Though the Lord had said, In Jerusalem I will put My name;

BrentonAnd he built an altar in the house of the Lord, whereas he had said, In Jerusalem I will place my name.

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησε θυσιαστήριον ἐν ὄκῳ Κυρίου, ὡς εἶπεν, ἐν Ἰερουσάλὴμ θήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου.

KJVAnd he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

JPSAnd he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD said: ‘In Jerusalem will I put My name.’

Thomsonyet he built an altar to the whole host of heaven, in the two courts of the house of the Lord;

BrentonAnd he built an altar to all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησε θυσιαστήριον πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐν ταῖς δυσὶν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου.

KJVAnd he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

JPSAnd he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Thomsonand made his sons pass through fire, and consulted omens, and auguries, and built temples, and multiplied diviners, to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

BrentonAnd he caused his sons to pass through the fire, and used divination and auspices, and made groves, and multiplied wizards, so as to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

GreekΚαὶ διῆγε τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐν πυρί, καὶ ἐκληδονίζετο καὶ οἰωνίζετο, καὶ ἐποίησε τεμένη, καὶ γνώστας ἐπλήθυνε τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου παροργίσαι αὐτόν.

KJVAnd he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

JPSAnd he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised soothsaying, and used enchantments, and appointed them that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him.

ThomsonNay, he placed the graven image of the bower [of Baal] in the very house, concerning which the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will place My name forever,

BrentonAnd he set up the graven image of the grove in the house of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I even place my name for ever.

GreekΚαὶ ἔθηκε τὸ γλυπτὸν τοῦ ἄλσους ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ᾧ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Δαυὶδ καὶ πρὸς Σαλωμὼν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ καὶ ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ ᾗ ἐξελεξάμην ἐκ πασῶν φυλῶν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ θήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,

KJVAnd he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

JPSAnd he set the graven image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son: ‘In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever;

Thomsonand I will no more remove the foot of Israel, from the land which I gave their fathers, provided they will keep all that I have commanded, according to the command which My servant Moses commanded them.

BrentonAnd I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I gave to their fathers, even of those who shall keep all that I commanded, according to all the commandments which my servant Moses commanded them.

Greekκαὶ οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ σαλεῦσαι τὸν πόδα Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἧς ἔδωκα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν, οἵ τινες φυλάξουσι πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ἐντολὴν ἣν ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ δοῦλός μου Μωυσῆς.

KJVNeither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.

JPSneither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.’

ThomsonNow when they hearkened not, and Manasses led them astray to do evil in the sight of the Lord, more than those nations, which the Lord had destroyed from before the Israelites;

BrentonBut they hearkened not; and Manasses led them astray to do evil in the sight of the Lord, beyond the nations whom the Lord utterly destroyed from before the children of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν, καὶ ἐπλάνησεν αὐτοὺς Μανασσῆς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου ὑπὲρ τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ἠθάνισε Κύριος ἐκ προσώπου υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.

KJVBut they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

JPSBut they hearkened not; and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations, whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

Thomsonthen by the ministry of His servants the prophets, the Lord spoke saying:

BrentonAnd the Lord spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ δούλων αὐτοῦ τῶν προφητῶν, λέγων,

KJVAnd the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,

JPSAnd the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying:

ThomsonBecause Manasses the king of Juda hath committed all these abominations—these evils surpassing all that the Amorites did before him, and hath caused Juda also to sin by their idols;

BrentonForasmuch as Manasses the king of Juda has wrought all these evil abominations, beyond all that the Amorite did, who lived before him, and has led Juda also into sin by their idols,

Greekἀνθʼ ὧν ὅσα ἐποίησε Μανασσῆς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰούδα τὰ βδελύγματα ταῦτα τὰ πονηρὰ ἀπὸ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἀμοῤῥαῖος ὁ ἔμπροσθεν, καὶ ἐξήμαρτε καί γε Ἰούδαν ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν,

KJVBecause 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:

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

Thomsontherefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will bring evils upon Jerusalem and Juda, so that both the ears of everyone who heareth them shall tingle.

Brentonit shall not be so. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I bring calamities upon Jerusalem and Juda, so that both the ears of every one that hears shall tingle.

Greekοὐχ οὕτως· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραήλ, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ φέρω κακὰ ἐπὶ Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ Ἰούδαν, ὥστε παντὸς ἀκούοντος ἠχήσει ἀμφότερα τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ·

KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

JPStherefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

ThomsonAnd I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Achab; and wipe Jerusalem as a vessel of alabaster is wiped and turned on its mouth.

BrentonAnd I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measure of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Achaab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a jar is wiped, and turned upside down in the wiping.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκτενῶ ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ τὸ μέτρον Σαμαρείας καὶ τὸ στάθμιον οἴκου Ἀχαάβ· καὶ ἀπαλείψω τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καθὼς ἀπαλείφεται ὁ ἀλάβαστρος ἀπαλειφόμενος καὶ καταστρέφεται ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

JPSAnd I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

ThomsonAnd I will cast off the remnant of My inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall be for a spoil, and for a prey to all their enemies,

BrentonAnd I will reject the remnant of my inheritance, and will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; and they shall be for a plunder and for a spoil to all their enemies:

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεώσομαι τὸ ὑπόλειμμα τῆς κληρονομίας μου, καὶ παραδώσω αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔσονται εἰς διαρπαγὴν καὶ εἰς προνομὴν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς αὐτῶν,

KJVAnd I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;

JPSAnd I will cast off the remnant of Mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;

Thomsonbecause they have done evil in My sight and gone on provoking Me from the day I brought them out of Egypt, even to this day.

Brentonforasmuch as they have done wickedly in my sight, and have provoked me from the day that I brought out their fathers out of Egypt, even until this day.

Greekἀνθʼ ὧν ὅσα ἐποίησαν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου, καὶ ἦσαν παροργίζοντές με ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἧς ἐξήγαγον τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVBecause they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.

JPSbecause they have done that which is evil in My sight, and have provoked Me, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.’

ThomsonMoreover Manasses shed innocent blood in great abundance till he filled Jerusalem, from one end to the other, in addition to the sins by which he caused Juda to sin, by doing evil in the sight of the Lord.

BrentonMoreover Manasses shed very much innocent blood, until he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to the other, beside his sins with which he caused Juda to sin, in doing evil in the eyes of the Lord.

GreekΚαί γε αἷμα ἀθῶον ἐξέχεε Μανασσῆς πολὺ σφόδρα ἕως οὗ ἔπλησε τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ στόμα εἰς στόμα, πλὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ ὧν ἐξήμαρτε τὸν Ἰούδαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου.

KJVMoreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

JPSMoreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

ThomsonNow the rest of the acts of Manasses and all that he did, and the sins which he committed are they not written in the journal of the kings of Juda?

BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Manasses, and all that he did, and his sin which he sinned, are not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Μανασσῆ καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησε, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία αὐτοῦ ἣν ἥμαρτεν, οὐχὶ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰούδα;

KJVNow the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

JPSNow the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

ThomsonWhen Manasses slept with his fathers, he was buried in the garden of his house in the garden of Oza; and Amos his son reigned in his stead.

BrentonAnd Manasses slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his house, even in the garden of Oza: and Amos his son reigned in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκοιμήθη Μανασσὴς μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῷ κήπῳ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ ἐν κήπῳ Ὀζά· καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἀμὼς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

JPSAnd Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

ThomsonAmos was twenty-two years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Mesollam. She was a daughter of Arus of Jeteba.

BrentonTwenty and two years old was Amos when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Mesollam, daughter of Arus of Jeteba.

GreekΥἱὸς εἴκοσι καὶ δύο ἐτῶν Ἀμὼς ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτόν, καὶ δύο ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ Μεσολλάμ, θυγάτηρ Ἀροὺς ἐξ Ἰετέβα.

KJVAmon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

JPSAmon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

ThomsonAnd he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses his father had done,

BrentonAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses his father did.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου καθὼς ἐποίησε Μανασσὴς, ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.

JPSAnd he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father.

Thomsonand walked in all the way in which his father walked and served the idols, which his father served and worshipped them.

BrentonAnd he walked in all the way in which his father walked, and served the idols which his father served, and worshipped them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν πάσῃ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἐπορεύθη ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλάτρευσε τοῖς εἰδώλοις οἷς ἐλάτρευσεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτοῖς.

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

JPSAnd he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them.

ThomsonHe forsook the Lord God of his fathers and did not walk in the way of the Lord,

BrentonAnd he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸν Κύριον Θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν ὁδῷ Κυρίου.

KJVAnd he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.

JPSAnd he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.

Thomsontherefore Amos’ servants conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

BrentonAnd the servants of Amos conspired against him, and slew the king in his house.

GreekΚαὶ συνεστράφησαν οἱ παῖδες Ἀμὼς πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐθανάτωσαν τὸν βασιλέα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

JPSAnd the servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.

ThomsonBut the people of the land, smote all those who conspired against king Amos. And the people of the land made his son Josias king in his stead.

BrentonAnd the people of the land slew all that had conspired against king Amos; and the people of the land made Josias his son king in his room.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπάταξεν ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς πάντας τοὺς συστραφέντας ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα Ἀμώς, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς τὸν Ἰωσίαν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

JPSBut the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

ThomsonNow the rest of the acts of Amos and all that he did, behold are they not written in the journal of the kings of Juda?

BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Amos, even all that he did, behold, are not these written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Ἀμὼς ὅσα ἐποίησεν, οὐκ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰούδα;

KJVNow the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

JPSNow the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

ThomsonNow when they had buried him in his sepulchre in the garden of Oza, Josias his son reigned in his stead.

BrentonAnd they buried him in his tomb in the garden of Oza: and Josias his son reigned in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἑν τῷ τάφῳ αὐτοῦ ἑν τῷ κήτῳ Ὀζά, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἰωσίας υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

JPSAnd he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.