2 Kings 21:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Manasseh's reign is summed up in a single verdict: he did evil, copying the very practices for which God had driven out the nations.
What Does 2 Kings 21:2 Mean?
The narrator gives the standard royal judgment, but with a chilling twist. Manasseh does not merely fall short; he revives 'the abominations of the heathen' — the practices of the Canaanite peoples whom the LORD had cast out of the land for that very sin.
To imitate what God has already judged is to invite the same judgment. Manasseh undoes his father's reforms and reaches back for what God buried. There is a sober warning here: the sins God has delivered us from are not safe to revisit. What He cast out, we must not gather back in.
2 Kings 21:2 in the Original Language
toebah (תּוֹעֵבָה), 'abomination' -- something detestable to God, used for practices that corrupt and defile.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 21:2
What does 2 Kings 21:2 mean?
Manasseh's reign is summed up in a single verdict: he did evil, copying the very practices for which God had driven out the nations.