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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

2 Kings 21:6

He 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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Groves;   Idolatry;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Manasseh;   Molech;   Rulers;   Temple;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fortune Telling;   Magic;   Sorcery;   The Topic Concordance - Paganism;   Wickedness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Divination;   Idolatry;   Kings;   Temple, the First;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Manasseh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Magic;   Manasseh, king of judah;   Molech;   Zephaniah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Ethics;   Gods and Goddesses, Pagan;   Kings, First and Second, Theology of;   Magic;   Necromancy;   Sin;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Familiar Spirit;   Meonenim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abomination of Desolation;   Divination;   Manasseh (2);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baal;   High Place;   Human Sacrifice;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Medium;   Molech;   Observer of Times;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Israel;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Manasseh;   Molech, Moloch;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Manasseh ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Moloch;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Manasseh;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Moloch;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Alliance;   Augury;   Baal (1);   Communion with Demons;   Divide;   Enchantment;   Familiar;   Fire;   Firstborn;   High Place;   Idolatry;   Magic;   Molech;   Sacrifice, Human;   Temple;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Divination;   Magic;   Moloch (Molech);   Necromancy;   Witchcraft;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He sacrificed his son in the fire, practiced witchcraft and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him.
Hebrew Names Version
He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
King James Version
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord , to provoke him to anger.
English Standard Version
And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord , provoking him to anger.
New Century Version
He made his own son pass through fire. He practiced magic and told the future by explaining signs and dreams, and he got advice from mediums and fortune-tellers. He did many things the Lord said were wrong, which made the Lord angry.
New English Translation
He passed his son through the fire and practiced divination and omen reading. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits, and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the Lord , provoking him to anger.
Amplified Bible
He made his son pass through the fire and burned him [as an offering to Molech]; he practiced witchcraft and divination, and dealt with mediums and soothsayers. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
New American Standard Bible
And he made his son pass through the fire, interpreted signs, practiced divination, and used mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
World English Bible
He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he caused his sonnes to passe through the fire, and gaue him selfe to witchcraft and sorcerie, and he vsed them that had familiar spirits and were soothsayers, and did much euill in the sight of the Lorde to anger him.
Legacy Standard Bible
He even made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying and interpreted omens, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much that was evil in the sight of Yahweh provoking Him to anger.
Contemporary English Version
and even set up the pole for Asherah there. Manasseh practiced magic and witchcraft; he asked fortunetellers for advice and sacrificed his own son. He did many sinful things and made the Lord very angry. Years ago the Lord had told David and his son Solomon: Jerusalem is the place I prefer above all others in Israel. It belongs to me, and there I will be worshiped forever.
Complete Jewish Bible
He made his son pass through the fire [as a sacrifice]. He practiced soothsaying and divination and appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from Adonai 's perspective, thus provoking him to anger.
Darby Translation
And he caused his son to pass through the fire, and used magic and divination, and appointed necromancers and soothsayers: he wrought evil beyond measure in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
Easy-to-Read Version
He sacrificed his own son and burned him on the altar. He used different ways of trying to know the future. He visited mediums and wizards. Manasseh did more and more things that the Lord saw as evil, which made the Lord angry.
George Lamsa Translation
And he caused his son to pass through the fire, and used divinations and practiced augury and appointed men with familiar spirits and wizards; he wrought much which was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Good News Translation
He sacrificed his son as a burnt offering. He practiced divination and magic and consulted fortunetellers and mediums. He sinned greatly against the Lord and stirred up his anger.
Lexham English Bible
He made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying and divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He increased the doing of evil in the eyes of Yahweh to provoke him.
Literal Translation
And he made his son to pass through the fire, used magic, and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spirit-knowers. He expanded to work the evil in the eyes of Jehovah, to provoke Him to anger.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And caused his sonne to go thorow the fyre, and regarded byrdes cryenge and tokens, and maynteyned soythsayers, and expounders of tokens, and so moch dyd he of this which was euell in the sight of the LORDE, that he prouoked him vnto wrath.
American Standard Version
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
Bible in Basic English
And he made his son go through the fire, and made use of secret arts and signs for reading the future; he gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers; he did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, moving him to wrath.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he offred his owne sonne in fire, and gaue heede vnto witchcraft and sorcery, and mainteyned workers with spirites, and tellers of fortunes, and wrought much wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde to anger him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised soothsaying, and used enchantments, and appointed them that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him.
King James Version (1611)
And he made his sonne passe thorow the fire, and obserued times, and vsed enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits, and wizards: he wrought much wickednesse in the sight of the Lord, to prouoke him to anger.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he caused his sons to pass through the fire, and used divination and auspices, and made groves, and multiplied wizards, so as to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
English Revised Version
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and he `ledde ouer his sone thorouy the fier; and he vside false dyuynyngis in auteris, on whiche sacrifice was maad to feendis, and he kepte false dyuynyngis bi chiteryng of bryddis; and he made men to haue yuele spiritis spekynge in the wombe, and he multipliede false dyuynours in entraylis of beestis sacrified to feendis, that he schulde do yuel bifor the Lord, and terre hym to ire.
Update Bible Version
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and interpreted omens, and used magic, and dealt with spiritists and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he committed much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.
New King James Version
Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.
New Living Translation
Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord 's sight, arousing his anger.
New Life Bible
He gave his son as a burnt gift, used witchcraft and told the future. He listened to those who spoke with spirits and used their secret ways. He did things that were very sinful in the eyes of the Lord, and made the Lord angry.
New Revised Standard
He made his son pass through fire; he practiced soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord , provoking him to anger.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and caused his son to pass through the fire, and practiced hidden arts and used divination, and dealt with a familiar spirit and wizards, - he exceeded in doing the thing that was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, provoking him to anger;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he made his son pass through fire: and he used divinations, and observed omens, and appointed pythons, and multiplied soothsayers, to do evil before the Lord, and to provoke him.
Revised Standard Version
And he burned his son as an offering, and practiced soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
Young's Literal Translation
and he hath caused his son to pass through fire, and observed clouds, and used enchantment, and dealt with a familiar spirit and wizards; he hath multiplied to do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah -- to provoke to anger.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger.

Contextual Overview

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 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. 8I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to wander from the land I gave their fathers, if only they are careful to do all I have commanded them-the whole Law that My servant Moses commanded them." 9But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3321, bc 683

he made: 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 17:17, Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 20:2, Leviticus 20:3, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Micah 6:7

observed times: Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-14

familiar: 1 Chronicles 10:13, Isaiah 8:19, Isaiah 19:3, Acts 16:16

wrought: 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4, Genesis 13:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:5 - divineth 1 Samuel 2:17 - before 2 Kings 3:2 - wrought 2 Kings 14:24 - in the sight 2 Kings 17:11 - to provoke 2 Kings 23:10 - might make 2 Kings 23:19 - to provoke the Lord 2 Kings 23:24 - the workers Psalms 51:4 - evil Psalms 106:37 - they sacrificed Isaiah 66:4 - they did Jeremiah 7:6 - and shed Jeremiah 19:4 - filled Ezekiel 16:21 - to pass Ezekiel 20:26 - in that Ezekiel 23:37 - have also Daniel 4:17 - the basest Acts 7:43 - ye took

Cross-References

Genesis 17:17
Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?"
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.
Genesis 21:15
When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes.
Genesis 21:21
And while he was dwelling in the Wilderness of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:27
So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.
Genesis 21:28
Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock,
Psalms 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Psalms 126:2
Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he made his son pass through the fire,.... To Molech, after the manner of the old Canaanites and Phoenicians; his son Amon, that succeeded him, and other children, as appears from 2 Chronicles 33:6, where mention is made of the place where it was done, the valley of the son of Hinnom:

and observed times; lucky or unlucky, which was judged of by omens, and by the position of the stars:

and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; to get knowledge of things to come; all which are forbid and condemned by the law of Moses; see Deuteronomy 18:10,

he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger; in all those evils before mentioned, which were very abominable in the sight of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the meaning of the phrase “passing through the fire,” see 2 Kings 16:3, and Leviticus 20:2-5.

To “observe times” was forbidden in the Law (marginal references), and was no doubt among the modes of divination practiced by the Canaanite nations. It has been explained as,

(1) Predicting from the state of the clouds and atmosphere;

(2) Fascination with the eye;

(3) Watching and catching at chance words as ominous.

Dealt with familiar spirits - This practice was forbidden by Moses Leviticus 19:31 under the penalty of death Leviticus 20:27. Its nature is best learned from Saul’s visit to the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7, etc.).

Wizards - “Wizards” - literally, “wise men” - are always joined with those who have familiar spirits. Probably they were a sort of necromancers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 21:6. Made his son pass through the fire — Consecrated him to Moloch.

Observed times — ועונן veonen; he practiced divination by the clouds; by observing their course at particular times, their different kinds, contrary directions, c., c.

Used enchantments — ונחש venichesh he used incantations, spells, and charms.

Dealt with familiar spirits — ועשה אוב veasah ob he was a necromancer; was a raiser of spirits, whom he endeavoured to press into his service; he had a Python.

And wizards — וידענים veyiddeonim; the knowing ones, the white witches, and such like; see on Leviticus 19:26-31, where most of these terms are particularly explained and illustrated.


 
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