Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 33:23
but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records this statement about King Amon immediately after describing his idolatrous reign and just before detailing his assassination by his own servants. The narrative positions Amon's refusal to humble himself as the defining contrast to his father Manasseh's later repentance.
The words — The Hebrew verb נִכְנַע (nikhnāʿ) means "he humbled himself," appearing twice in the verse to contrast Amon's refusal with Manasseh's past submission. The conjunction וְ/לֹא (wə-lōʾ) introduces a direct negation, emphasizing that Amon actively avoided the posture of repentance before Yahweh.
The thread — This contrast with Manasseh's repentance appears in 2 Chronicles 33:12, where Manasseh earnestly humbled himself before God during distress. The pattern of royal unfaithfulness in crisis also echoes 2 Chronicles 28:22, where Ahaz deepened his rebellion when troubled.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that inherited spiritual patterns can be broken or reinforced by personal choice. It requires the reader to see that refusing humility before God directly escalates moral consequence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 33:12 And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.
- 2 Chronicles 33:19 His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers.
- 2 Chronicles 28:22 In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
- Jeremiah 7:26 Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.
- Jeremiah 8:12 Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.
- 2 Timothy 3:13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.