2 Kings 21:4

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And he built {H1129} altars {H4196} in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, of which the LORD {H3068} said {H559}, In Jerusalem {H3389} will I put {H7760} my name {H8034}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He erected altars in the house of ADONAI, about which ADONAI had said, "In Yerushalayim I will put my name."

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 21:4 records a profound act of spiritual rebellion by King Manasseh of Judah, who deliberately built altars for pagan deities within the very confines of the Temple in Jerusalem. This egregious act directly violated the LORD's explicit command that His name, signifying His unique presence and exclusive claim, was to be placed solely in Jerusalem, making the Temple the consecrated center of worship for His people. Manasseh's actions represented a direct assault on divine holiness and the foundational covenant relationship between God and Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated early in the account of King Manasseh's reign (2 Kings 21:1-18), immediately following the relatively righteous reign of his father, Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20). The narrative starkly contrasts Manasseh's profound wickedness with Hezekiah's devotion, which included extensive reforms to purify Judah from idolatry. Manasseh's actions, particularly the desecration of the Temple, are presented as a rapid and comprehensive reversal of his father's efforts, setting the stage for the irreversible spiritual decline of Judah that would ultimately lead to its exile. The building of altars within the Temple is highlighted as a particularly egregious offense, underscoring the depth of his apostasy and foreshadowing the divine judgment that would follow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Manasseh reigned for 55 years (c. 697-642 BCE), a period marked by significant Assyrian dominance over Judah. Assyrian religious practices, including the worship of astral deities and child sacrifice, heavily influenced surrounding nations. Manasseh's embrace of these foreign cults was likely a political move to appease the powerful Assyrian empire, but it also reflected a deep spiritual compromise. The concept of a deity "putting its name" in a place was common in the ancient Near East, signifying ownership and presence. However, for Yahweh, it carried the unique theological weight of exclusive monotheistic worship, distinguishing Israel from its polytheistic neighbors. The Temple in Jerusalem, built by Solomon, was intended to be the singular, consecrated dwelling place for God's presence, making Manasseh's introduction of pagan altars a direct affront to centuries of covenantal tradition and divine revelation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within 2 Kings and the broader Deuteronomistic History. First, it exemplifies **blatant idolatry and desecration**, showcasing Manasseh's systematic effort to introduce pagan worship into the very heart of Israelite faith, directly defying the first commandment to have [no other gods before God](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods"). Second, it underscores **God's holy presence and exclusive claim** over the Temple and Jerusalem, emphasizing that the phrase "In Jerusalem will I put my name" signifies His unique authority and covenant relationship with Israel, as articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 12:5](/deuteronomy/12-5 "Deuteronomy 12:5 - God Chooses a Place for His Name") and [1 Kings 8:29](/1_kings/8-29 "1 Kings 8:29 - Solomon's Prayer of Dedication"). Finally, Manasseh's actions initiate the theme of the **consequences of disobedience**, as his extensive wickedness, which [exceeded even the abominations of the nations](/2_kings/21-9 "2 Kings 21:9 - Manasseh's Extreme Evil"), is repeatedly cited as the primary reason for Judah's eventual destruction and exile, despite later reforms by King Josiah in [2 Kings 23](/2_kings/23 "2 Kings 23 - Josiah's Reforms").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Altars (Hebrew, _mizbᵉḥōt'_):** These were structures, typically made of stone or earth, used for offering sacrifices to deities. In the context of Yahwistic worship, altars were central to communion with God. However, Manasseh built "altars" (plural) for foreign gods, indicating a multiplicity of pagan worship practices. Their construction "in the house of the LORD" signifies not merely the introduction of idolatry but the audacious and sacrilegious appropriation of sacred space dedicated exclusively to Yahweh for the worship of false gods.
* **House of the LORD (Hebrew, _bêt Yahweh'_):** This refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem, built by King Solomon. It was considered the earthly dwelling place of God's presence, the central sanctuary for Israelite worship, and a symbol of God's covenant with His people. Its sanctity was paramount, making any act of defilement within its precincts an extreme offense against God's holiness and His established order for worship.
* **Put my name (Hebrew, _śûm šēm'_):** This idiomatic phrase is profoundly significant. It means far more than simply giving a label to a place. When God "puts His name" in Jerusalem or the Temple, it signifies His active, manifest presence, His authority, His ownership, and the place where He is to be truly known, invoked, and worshipped exclusively. It establishes Jerusalem as the unique, chosen focal point for His covenant relationship with Israel and the place where His glory would dwell. Manasseh's actions were a direct challenge to this divine declaration of exclusive presence and authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he built altars":** This opening clause immediately establishes Manasseh's active and deliberate agency in the act of rebellion. The verb "built" (וַיִּבֶן, _wayyiven_) indicates a purposeful construction, not a passive acceptance. It highlights his initiative in introducing and establishing pagan worship.
* **"in the house of the LORD":** This phrase specifies the location of Manasseh's sacrilege, emphasizing the gravity of his offense. The Temple was the most sacred site in Israel, consecrated by God's presence. Building pagan altars within it was the ultimate act of desecration, a direct affront to God's holiness and His exclusive claim over His dwelling place.
* **"of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name":** This final clause provides the divine standard against which Manasseh's actions are judged. It serves as a direct quotation or strong paraphrase of God's prior declarations, particularly those found in Deuteronomy and 1 Kings, regarding His choice of Jerusalem as the singular place where His name would dwell. This highlights Manasseh's profound awareness and deliberate defiance of God's explicit command, transforming his act from mere idolatry into a conscious act of apostasy and rebellion against divine authority.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Contrast** is central, juxtaposing Manasseh's wicked actions with the LORD's explicit declaration of holiness for the Temple. The act of building pagan altars stands in stark opposition to the divine purpose for which the Temple was established. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as the very place designated for the exclusive worship of the one true God is defiled by structures dedicated to false deities. This perversion of sacred space underscores the depth of Manasseh's spiritual depravity. Furthermore, the Temple itself functions as **Symbolism**, representing God's presence, covenant faithfulness, and the purity of Israel's worship. Manasseh's defilement of this symbol signifies the corruption of the nation's spiritual heart and its covenant relationship with Yahweh. The repeated emphasis on God "putting His name" in Jerusalem serves as a powerful **motif** throughout the Deuteronomistic history, highlighting God's sovereign choice and exclusive claim, which Manasseh so brazenly challenged.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 21:4 profoundly underscores the theological truth of God's absolute holiness and His demand for exclusive worship. Manasseh's actions were not merely a breach of ritual, but a direct assault on the very nature of Yahweh, who had revealed Himself as the one true God, intolerant of rivals. The concept of God "putting His name" in Jerusalem signifies His unique, personal presence and the exclusivity of His covenant claim over His people and their worship. This act of desecration demonstrates the severe danger of syncretism and spiritual compromise, illustrating how the introduction of foreign worship practices can fundamentally corrupt a nation's relationship with God and lead to divine judgment. It emphasizes that true worship requires undivided devotion and adherence to God's revealed will, without admixture from pagan influences.

* [Deuteronomy 12:5](/deuteronomy/12-5 "God's Chosen Place for Worship") - "But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks."
* [1 Kings 8:29](/1_kings/8-29 "1 Kings 8:29 - Solomon's Prayer for the Temple") - "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: to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place."
* [2 Kings 23:4](/2_kings/23-4 "2 Kings 23:4 - Josiah Cleanses the Temple") - "And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Manasseh's desecration of the Temple serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and the insidious nature of idolatry. Just as the physical Temple was meant to be a consecrated space for God's exclusive presence, believers today are called to recognize their own bodies as "temples of the Holy Ghost" ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Believers as Temples of the Holy Spirit")). This spiritual reality calls us to guard our hearts, minds, and lives from anything that would defile our relationship with God or introduce rival loyalties. Modern idolatry may not involve physical altars to foreign gods, but it can manifest in the worship of success, materialism, self, comfort, or any pursuit that displaces God from His rightful, supreme position in our lives. This verse challenges us to examine our allegiances, ensuring that our worship is pure, undivided, and truly centered on the one true God, who desires genuine devotion over superficial ritual. The seriousness of Manasseh's rebellion reminds us of the enduring holiness of God and His unwavering demand for exclusive devotion from those who bear His name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like Manasseh, be tempted to introduce "altars" of compromise or worldly values into the "temple" of my own heart or the church?**
* **What modern "gods" or idols might subtly compete for my ultimate allegiance, distracting me from exclusive devotion to the LORD?**
* **How can I actively ensure that my worship, both personal and corporate, remains pure and truly honors God's name above all else?**

### FAQ

**Why was building altars in the Temple such a severe offense?**

Answer: Building altars for pagan gods within the Temple was a severe offense for several critical reasons. First, it was a direct and blatant violation of God's explicit command for exclusive worship, as stated in the first commandment ([Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods")). Second, the Temple was consecrated as the unique dwelling place where God had chosen to "put His name" ([1 Kings 8:29](/1_kings/8-29 "1 Kings 8:29 - Solomon's Prayer for the Temple")), signifying His exclusive presence and ownership. Introducing foreign altars into this sacred space was an act of profound desecration, a direct affront to God's holiness and His covenant relationship with Israel. It challenged His sovereignty and purity, essentially inviting rival deities into His own house. This act demonstrated a complete disregard for divine authority and the spiritual heritage of the nation.

**What does it mean for God to "put His name" in Jerusalem?**

Answer: When God declares that He will "put His name" in Jerusalem (or the Temple), it signifies far more than simply naming a place. It conveys several profound theological truths:
1. **Divine Presence:** It indicates that God's active, manifest presence would reside there, making it a unique place of encounter between God and humanity.
2. **Authority and Ownership:** It signifies God's sovereign authority and ownership over that place, marking it as His chosen sanctuary.
3. **Revelation and Knowledge:** It implies that this is where God would reveal Himself, where His character would be known, and where He would be invoked and worshipped according to His revealed will.
4. **Exclusive Worship:** Crucially, it established Jerusalem as the singular, divinely appointed center for the worship of Yahweh, distinguishing it from all other places and prohibiting the worship of any other gods there. Manasseh's actions directly contradicted this foundational principle of exclusive monotheism.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desecration of the Temple by Manasseh, and God's declaration that His name would be put in Jerusalem, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. While the physical Temple was repeatedly defiled by human sin and ultimately destroyed, Jesus Himself declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" ([John 2:19](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")), speaking of the temple of His body. Christ is the true and perfect Temple, the ultimate dwelling place of God's presence, for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of God in Christ")). His cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem ([Matthew 21:12-13](/matthew/21-12 "Matthew 21:12 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")) foreshadowed His mission to purify true worship and establish a new covenant where God's presence is no longer confined to a physical structure but dwells in His Son. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus made the perfect and final offering, rendering all other altars and sacrifices obsolete ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")). Now, through faith in Him, believers become living temples of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Believers as Temples of the Holy Spirit")), called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and pure worship, with God's name truly dwelling within them, not in a building made with hands.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 7:13

He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

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.

Jeremiah 32:34

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

Deuteronomy 12:5

¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

2 Kings 16:10

¶ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that [was] at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

2 Kings 16:16

Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

1 Kings 9:3

And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.