2 Kings 21:1

2 Kings 21:1 in other versions

• King James Version (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 Hephzi–bah.
• New International Version (NIV)Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.

Context of 2 Kings 21:1

Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. He ruled as king in Jerusalem for 55 years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2Manasseh did things that the Lord said were evil. He did the same terrible sins that the other nations in Canaan had done. Those were the nations that the Lord had chased out so that the Israelites could live there. 3Manasseh built again the altars on the hills that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He built altars for people to worship Baal. He also made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done. He bent down low to worship all the stars in the sky.

2 Kings 21:1 word by word

בֶּן־שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֥ם אִמּ֖וֹ חֶפְצִי־בָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Manassehמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
• twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
• twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
• when he began to reignמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
• fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• and fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• And his mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
• nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• Hephzi–bahחֶפְצִי־בָהּchephtsîy bâhh · HephzibahH2657

Cross-references for 2 Kings 21:1

• 2 Kings 20:21So Hezekiah died and they buried him beside his ancestors. His son Manasseh became king after him.
• 1 Chronicles 3:13Jotham's son was Ahaz. Ahaz's son was Hezekiah. Hezekiah's son was Manasseh.
• 2 Chronicles 32:33Hezekiah died and his people buried him beside the graves of King David's descendants, near the top of the hill. At his death, all the people of Judah and those who lived in Jerusalem gave him great honour. Hezekiah's son Manasseh became king after him.
• 2 Chronicles 33:1Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. He ruled as king in Jerusalem for 55 years.
• Matthew 1:10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.
• Proverbs 5:19May she be as pretty and beautiful as a young deer. May her breasts always make you happy. May she love you in a way that gives you joy.
• Isaiah 62:4They will no longer call you by the name ‘Alone’. They will not call your land ‘Empty place’. Instead, they will call you ‘The one that makes God happy’. The name of your land will be ‘Married’. Yes, the Lord will be very happy with you. Your land will be his bride.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 21:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Manasseh was twelve years old - Manasseh, therefore, was not born at the time of Hezekiah‘s dangerous illness; and it is probable that Hezekiah had at that time no son to succeed him. According to Josephus, this was the principal cause of his grief. Hephzibah - Jewish tradition makes Hephzibah, Hezekiah‘s wife, the daughter of Isaiah; but this is scarcely probable. She was, however, no doubt, known to the prophet, and it may well have been in special…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Wicked reign of Manasseh. (1-9) The prophetic denunciations against Judah. (10-18) Wicked reign and death of Amon. (19-26) Verses 1-9 Young persons generally desire to become their own masters, and to have early possession of riches and power. But this, for the most part, ruins their future comfort, and causes mischief to others. It is much happier when young persons are sheltered under the care of parents or guardians, till age gives experience and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2fifty-five years: Manasseh's long rule, from 697 to 642 BC was not due to his faithfulness to the Lord, but because the Lord honored his covenant promises (see also 2 Kings 8:19; 19:34; 20:6; 2 Samuel 7:11–16). External conditions were mostly stable. Although Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (680–669 BC) and Ashurbanipal (668–626 BC) led several military campaigns, they did not target Judah until later in Manasseh’s reign, likely around 650 to 648 BC (see 2…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-182Ki 21:1-18. Manasseh's Wicked Reign, and Great Idolatry. 1-3. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign--He must have been born three years after his father's recovery; and his minority, spent under the influence of guardians who were hostile to the religious principles and reforming policy of his father, may account in part for the anti-theocratic principles of his reign. The work of religious reformation which Hezekiah had zealously carried…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 21:1

• Hephzi-Bah
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Manasseh
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Jerusalem
• Manasseh
• Hephzibah
• Kings, The Books of
• Prey
• Wipe
• Hezekiah (2)
• Host of Heaven
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Kings, Books of

Commentaries on 2 Kings 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings