2 Kings 21 · Verse 1

2 Kings 21:1

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.

2 Kings 21:1, King James Version

2 Kings 21:1 in other translations

BSB	Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
WEB	Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
ASV	Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.
YLT	A son of twelve years is Manasseh in his reigning, and fifty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Hephzi-Bah;
DARBY	Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
BBE	Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king; for fifty-five years he was ruling in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.
Webster	Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.

What does 2 Kings 21:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 21:1-3

2Ki 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 on was but partially accomplished. There was little appearance of its influence on the heart and manners of the people at large. On the contrary, the true fear of God had vanished from the mass of the people; corruption and vice increased, and were openly practised (Is 28:7, &c.) by the degenerate leaders, who, having got the young prince Manasseh into their power, directed his education, trained him up in their views, and seduced him into the open patronage of idolatry. Hence, when he became sovereign, he introduced the worship of idols, the restoration of high places, and the erection of altars or pillars to Baal, and the placing, in the temple of God itself, a graven image of Asherah, the sacred or symbolic tree, which represented "all the host of heaven." This was not idolatry, but pure star-worship, of Chaldaic and Assyrian origin [Keil]. The sun, as among the Persians, had chariots and horses consecrated to it (2Ki 23:11); and incense was offered to the stars on the housetops (2Ki 23:12; 2Ch 33:5; Jr 19:13; Zep 1:5), and in the temple area with the face turned toward the sunrise (Eze 8:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years, and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry and murder, 2Kgs 21:1-9. God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land, 2Kgs 21:10-15. Manasseh's acts and death, 2Kgs 21:16-18. Amon his son succeeds him, and reigns two years; is equally profligate with his father; is slain by his servants, and buried in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigns in his stead, 2Kgs 21:19-26. Verse 1 Manasseh 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Kings 21:1-9

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 discretion. Though such young persons are less indulged, they will afterwards be thankful. Manasseh wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, as if on purpose to provoke him to anger; he did more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed. Manasseh went on from bad to worse, till carried captive to Babylon. The people were ready to comply with his wishes, to obtain his favour and because it suited their depraved inclinations. In the reformation of large bodies, numbers are mere time-servers, and in temptation fall away.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Kings 21:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בֶּן\־ben-[was] a son ofH1121

שְׁתֵּ֨יםshe.Teimtwo [plus]H8147

עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה'es.RehtenH6240

שָׁנָה֙sha.Nahyear[s]H8141

מְנַשֶּׁ֣הme.na.ShehManassehH4519

בְמָלְכ֔וֹve.ma.le.Khowhen became king heH4427

וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤יםva.cha.mi.Shimand fiftyH2572

וְחָמֵשׁ֙ve.cha.Meshand fiveH2568

שָׁנָ֔הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141

מָלַ֖ךְma.Lakhhe reignedH4427

בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.Limin JerusalemH3389

וְשֵׁ֥םve.Shemand [the] name ofH8034

אִמּ֖וֹ'i.Momother hisH517

חֶפְצִי\־chef.tzi-[was] Hephzi-H2657

בָֽהּ\׃Vah-bahH2657

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Kings 21:1

Isaiah 62:4
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi–bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
1 Chronicles 3:13
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Matthew 1:10
And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
2 Kings 20:21
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
2 Chronicles 32:33-33:9
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. …
Proverbs 5:19
Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Manasseh's reign.
3 His great idolatry.
10 His wickedness causes prophecies against Judah.
17 Amon succeeds him.
19 Amon's wicked reign.
23 He being slain by his servants, and those murderers slain by the people, Josiah is made king.

A.M. 3306-3361. B.C. 698-643. was twelve.
20:21; 1Ch 3:13; 2Ch 32:33; 33:1-9; Mt 1:10
Manasses. Hephzi-bah.
Pr 5:19; Isa 62:4; *marg:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Kings 21:1
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.
2 Kings 21:2
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.

Read all of 2 Kings 21

2 Kings 21:1 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	DE doce años era Manasés cuando comenzó á reinar, y reinó en Jerusalem cincuenta y cinco años: el nombre de su madre fué Hepsiba.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	*Manassé était âgé de douze ans lorsqu’il commença de régner; et il régna 55 ans à Jérusalem; et le nom de sa mère était Hephtsiba.
German Elberfelder 1871	Zwölf Jahre war Manasse alt, als er König wurde, und er regierte 55 Jahre zu Jerusalem; und der Name seiner Mutter war Hephzi-Bah.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Duodecim annorum erat Manasses cum regnare cœpisset, et quinquaginta quinque annis regnavit in Jerusalem: nomen matris ejus Haphsiba.