Bible Strands
2 Kings 21:9
But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records this event immediately after God’s conditional promise to keep Israel in the land, just before God initiates prophetic warnings. The passage describes the national response to that promise.
The words — שָׁמֵ֑עוּ (sha.ME'u) = they listened, and וַ/יַּתְעֵ֤/ם (va/yi.tE'am) = and he misled them. These verbs anchor the verse’s claim that refusal to heed instruction enables corrupt leadership.
The thread — The pattern of leadership corrupting the people appears in 1 Kings 14:16 regarding Jeroboam’s sins and 2 Chronicles 33:9, which parallels this account. Proverbs 29:12 addresses a distinct dynamic, noting that a ruler who listens to lies causes his officials to become wicked.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that collective disobedience follows rejected divine instruction and that leadership failure accelerates national corruption. Readers must track how specific choices trigger measurable historical consequences.
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
But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
- 1 Kings 14:16 So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
- 2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- Nehemiah 9:26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
- Nehemiah 9:29 You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They turned a stubborn shoulder; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.
- Ezekiel 16:51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.
- Daniel 9:6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.
- Daniel 9:10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.
- Hosea 5:11 Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.