2 Kings 21:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And 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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Manasseh installs a carved idol in the temple — the very house God had chosen forever for His name.
What Does 2 Kings 21:7 Mean?
The narrator places the idol against the backdrop of God's ancient promise to David and Solomon: this house, this city, chosen out of all Israel, would bear His name forever. Into that sworn dwelling Manasseh sets a graven image of Asherah, the goddess pole he had made.
The contrast could not be sharper — an eternal promise of God's presence met by a man-made idol of wood. Yet notice the word 'for ever': God's purpose for His name in that place is not undone by Manasseh's sin. Human rebellion can defile a sanctuary, but it cannot cancel the faithfulness of God. His chosen purposes outlast every idol set against them.
2 Kings 21:7 in the Original Language
pesel (פֶּסֶל), 'graven image' -- a carved idol, forbidden because no image can represent the living God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Kings 21:7
What does 2 Kings 21:7 mean?
Manasseh installs a carved idol in the temple — the very house God had chosen forever for His name.