2 Kings 21:5
2 Kings 21:5 in Multiple Translations
In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.
And he put up altars for all the stars of heaven in the two outer squares of the house of the Lord.
He set up altars to worship the sun, moon, and stars in the two courtyards of the Lord's Temple.
And he built altars for al the hoste of ye heauen in the two courtes of the house of the Lord.
And he buildeth altars to all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of Jehovah;
He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD’s house.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the temple of the Lord.
He directed that altars for worshiping the stars be built in both of the courtyards outside the temple.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 21:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Kings 21:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּ֥בֶן
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת
לְ/כָל
צְבָ֣א
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
בִּ/שְׁתֵּ֖י
חַצְר֥וֹת
בֵּית
יְהוָֽה
וַ/יִּ֥בֶן
bânâh
H1129
to build
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת
mizbêach
H4196
altar
N-mp
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
צְבָ֣א
tsâbâʼ
H6635
army
N-cs
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
shâmayim
H8064
heaven
Art | N-mp
בִּ/שְׁתֵּ֖י
shᵉnayim
H8147
two
Prep | Adj
חַצְר֥וֹת
châtsêr
H2691
court
N-cp
בֵּית
bayith
H1004
place
N-ms
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 21:5
וַ/יִּ֥בֶן
bânâh
H1129
"to build"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת
mizbêach
H4196
"altar"
N-mp
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Definition: altar
Usage: Occurs in 338 OT verses. KJV: altar. See also: Genesis 8:20; Leviticus 7:2; 1 Kings 2:28.
לְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
צְבָ֣א
tsâbâʼ
H6635
"army"
N-cs
This Hebrew word means a large group of people or things, often referring to an army or a campaign, and is also used to describe the Lord's hosts. It appears in the Bible as a name for God, emphasizing His power and authority. In the KJV, it's translated as 'host' or 'army'.
Definition: : army 1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host 1a) army, host 1a1) host (of organised army) 1a2) host (of angels) 1a3) of sun, moon, and stars 1a4) of whole creation 1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war 1c) service
Usage: Occurs in 463 OT verses. KJV: appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare). See also: Genesis 2:1; 1 Samuel 17:55; Psalms 24:10.
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
shâmayim
H8064
"heaven"
Art | N-mp
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Definition: 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Usage: Occurs in 395 OT verses. KJV: air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). See also: Genesis 1:1; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 28:21.
בִּ/שְׁתֵּ֖י
shᵉnayim
H8147
"two"
Prep | Adj
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Definition: 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)
Usage: Occurs in 646 OT verses. KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. See also: Genesis 1:16; Exodus 30:4; Numbers 13:23.
חַצְר֥וֹת
châtsêr
H2691
"court"
N-cp
A village in the Bible is a small settlement surrounded by walls. In Matthew 21:2, Jesus sends his disciples to a village to find a donkey, while in Mark 6:6, Jesus travels from village to village teaching.
Definition: 1) court, enclosure 1a) enclosures 1b) court
Usage: Occurs in 163 OT verses. KJV: court, tower, village. See also: Genesis 25:16; 2 Chronicles 24:21; Psalms 10:8.
בֵּית
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
יְהוָֽה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 21:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 21:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 21:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 21:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 21:5
- Sermons on 2 Kings 21:5
Context — Manasseh Reigns in Judah
3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.
4Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.”
5In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.
6He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. 7Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 7:12 | The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 23:4 | Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 23:12 | He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. The king pulverized them there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 6:36 | Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 44:19 | When they go out to the outer court, to the people, they are to take off the garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes so that they do not transmit holiness to the people with their garments. |
| 6 | 2 Kings 23:6 | He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 40:37 | Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 40:32 | And he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements as the others. |
| 9 | Ezekiel 40:47 | Next he measured the court. It was square, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 42:3 | Gallery faced gallery in three levels opposite the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and opposite the pavement that belonged to the outer court. |
2 Kings 21:5 Summary
This verse means that Manasseh, the king of Judah, built altars to worship the stars and other celestial bodies in the courtyards of the temple, which was a place where God's people were supposed to worship Him alone. This was a big mistake, because God had commanded the Israelites to worship only Him and have no other gods before Him, as seen in Exodus 20:3-5. By doing this, Manasseh was disobeying God's commands and desecrating the temple, which was a special place where God's people could come to worship and meet with Him, as seen in 1 Kings 8:29. We can learn from Manasseh's mistake by making sure that our worship is pure and dedicated solely to the one true God, and by being careful not to blend false practices with our worship of Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to build altars to all the host of heaven?
Building altars to all the host of heaven means that Manasseh was worshiping and giving homage to the stars, moon, and other celestial bodies, which is a form of idolatry, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:19 and Deuteronomy 17:3.
Why did Manasseh build these altars in the courtyards of the house of the LORD?
Manasseh built these altars in the house of the LORD, which was a place dedicated to the worship of the one true God, to blend his idolatrous practices with the true worship of God, as warned against in Deuteronomy 12:1-3 and Jeremiah 7:30.
How does this action relate to the covenant God made with Israel?
By building altars to other gods in the house of the LORD, Manasseh was breaking the covenant God made with Israel, as stated in Exodus 20:3-5, which commanded the Israelites to worship only the one true God and have no other gods before Him.
What is the significance of the two courtyards in the house of the LORD?
The two courtyards in the house of the LORD were likely the inner and outer courtyards, where the priests and people would gather to worship, and by building altars to the host of heaven in these courtyards, Manasseh was desecrating the very place where God's people were supposed to worship Him alone, as seen in 1 Kings 6:36 and 2 Chronicles 4:9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be unknowingly worshiping idols or blending false practices with my worship of God?
- How can I ensure that my worship is pure and dedicated solely to the one true God?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be compromising my faith or allowing false influences to creep in?
- How can I protect myself from the influence of false teachings and idolatrous practices, as warned against in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 and 2 Peter 2:1-3?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 21:5
And he built altars for all the host of heaven,.... Sun, moon, and stars: in the two courts of the house of the Lord; in the court of the priests, and in the court of the people; and all this must be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 21:5
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. The two courts of the house of the Lord - the court of the priests and the large court of the people.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
The one of the priests, the other of the people, .
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
2 Kings 21:5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.Ver. 5. In the two courts of the house of the Lord.] Both in the priests’ court, and in the people’ s also, poured he forth his whoredoms: as being acted and agitated by a spirit of fornication, an impetus to idolatry. He was worse than his contemporary Numa, king of Romans, who filled the people’ s heads with all sorts of superstitions, and so increased the number of the gods, that he left no room for himself to be placed amongst them, as Augustine saith wittily. De Civ. Dei, lib. xviii, cap. 24.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 21:5
(5) In the two courts.—Even in the inner and more sacred court, where the sacrifices were offered to Jehovah.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 21:5
5. the two courts of the house of the Lord] On the two courts of the temple, spoken of respectively as ‘the inner’ or ‘higher’ court, or ‘the court of the priests, and ‘the great court’ which must have enclosed the inner, see note on 1 Kings 6:36.
Sermons on 2 Kings 21:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Reforms of the Covenant by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of worshiping and serving God as a nation. He emphasizes that when a nation turns away from God and begins to worship fa |