2 Kings 21:3 Meaning and Explanation
“For 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Manasseh rebuilds the very shrines his father had torn down and adopts the idolatry of Ahab, the most notorious of northern kings.
What Does 2 Kings 21:3 Mean?
Hezekiah had purged the high places at great cost; Manasseh rebuilds them stone by stone. He erects altars to Baal, makes a sacred pole for the goddess Asherah, and bows to the sun, moon, and stars — 'all the host of heaven.' By naming Ahab, the narrator marks how far Judah's king has fallen.
To worship the host of heaven is to honor the creation and forget the Creator who set the stars in place. Manasseh hands his devotion to things God made rather than to God Himself. The human heart will always worship something; the only question is whether it bows to the Maker or to the made.
2 Kings 21:3 in the Original Language
asherah (אֲשֵׁרָה), 'grove' -- a wooden cult object or sacred pole tied to pagan worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 21:3
What does 2 Kings 21:3 mean?
Manasseh rebuilds the very shrines his father had torn down and adopts the idolatry of Ahab, the most notorious of northern kings.