2 Chronicles 33:4

Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

Also he built {H1129} altars {H4196} in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, whereof the LORD {H3068} had said {H559}, In Jerusalem {H3389} shall my name {H8034} be for ever {H5769}.

He erected altars in the house of ADONAI, concerning which ADONAI had said, "My name will be in Yerushalayim forever."

Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”

And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

2 Chronicles 33:4 details one of the most egregious acts of idolatry committed by King Manasseh, highlighting his profound rebellion against the Lord. This verse describes his audacity in defiling the very place God had consecrated for His presence.

Context

King Manasseh, son of the righteous King Hezekiah, reigned over Judah for 55 years (2 Chronicles 33:1). His reign was tragically marked by widespread wickedness, reversing the reforms his father had instituted. While Hezekiah had diligently cleansed the land of idols and reopened the Temple (see 2 Chronicles 29:3), Manasseh systematically rebuilt the high places, erected altars for Baal, and worshipped "all the host of heaven" (2 Chronicles 33:3). Verse 4 specifically condemns his act of building altars for pagan deities within the sacred precincts of the Temple itself, the "house of the LORD" in Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Blatant Defiance and Idolatry: Manasseh's actions were not merely a lapse but a deliberate and provocative act of rebellion. Building altars to false gods inside the Temple was the ultimate desecration, a direct affront to God's holiness and exclusive claim over His people.
  • The Sanctity of God's Dwelling: The verse explicitly reminds the reader that this was the place "whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever." This refers to God's covenant promise to dwell among His people and establish His name in Jerusalem and the Temple (as seen in 1 Kings 9:3 and Deuteronomy 12:5). Manasseh’s act was a violation of this divine decree and a profound betrayal of Judah’s covenant relationship with God.
  • The Gravity of Sin: The severity of Manasseh's sin is magnified by the location of his idolatry. It illustrates how deep the spiritual corruption had become under his rule, leading the people of Judah further astray than any king before him (see 2 Chronicles 33:9).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever" is significant. In biblical thought, God's "name" (Hebrew: shem) represents His very nature, character, authority, and presence. For God to say His name would be "for ever" in Jerusalem meant that this was the chosen place for His enduring revelation, worship, and spiritual dwelling among His people. Manasseh's act was therefore an attempt to corrupt God's very identity and presence in the designated holy space.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful warning against spiritual compromise and the dangers of allowing foreign influences to corrupt one's worship or devotion. While we no longer have a physical Temple in Jerusalem in the same way, the principle applies to our spiritual lives. Believers are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This implies a call to maintain purity in our hearts, minds, and actions, ensuring that our lives are devoted exclusively to the Lord and not defiled by modern-day "idols" such as materialism, power, or self-worship. We are to protect the sacred space within us where God's name dwells.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:16

    For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

  • 1 Kings 8:29

    That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, [even] toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

  • Deuteronomy 12:11

    Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

  • 2 Chronicles 6:6

    But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:19

    And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, [which were] the work of the hands of man.

  • 2 Kings 21:4

    And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

  • 2 Kings 21:5

    And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

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