Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records King Manasseh’s actions in Jerusalem following his construction of altars to the host of heaven in the temple courtyards. The text evaluates his religious practices as a historical and theological assessment rather than a direct speech act.
The words — The Hebrew verb הֶעֱבִ֤יר (he‘eḇîr) literally means “he made pass,” describing the physical act of passing his son through the fire. The noun א֖וֹב (ʾōḇ) denotes a necromancer or spirit medium consulted for occult guidance.
The thread — This combination of child sacrifice and occult practice appears in 2 Kings 17:17 as a defining marker of national apostasy. It directly contravenes the covenant prohibitions against offering children to Molech in Leviticus 18:21 and seeking out mediums in Leviticus 19:31.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that adopting forbidden religious practices constitutes active rebellion against divine authority. It demands the conclusion that covenant violations provoke definitive judgment rather than mere disapproval.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 17:17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
- Leviticus 18:21 You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
- Leviticus 19:31 You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 19:26 You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.
- 2 Kings 16:3 Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- Deuteronomy 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
- 2 Chronicles 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
- Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
- Leviticus 20:2 “Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him.
- 2 Kings 24:3 Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done,