II Chronicles 33:1 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 33:1 Commentary: The Reign of a Young King
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study the regnal formula for Manasseh: age 12 at accession, 55-year reign.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Ancient regnal formula introducing the reign of Judah’s king Manasseh.
- Key words: ben (son/age), shanah (year), malakh (reigned).
- Main debate: Why did a king raised in a time of revival become so evil? Youthful vulnerability versus personal rebellion.
- Theological theme: The reality of human sin and the need for genuine heart transformation, not just external reform.
- Best use: Opening a study on the tragedy of apostasy and the possibility of repentance (with the rest of chapter 33).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
KJV King James Version 1769
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
A son of twelve years is Manasseh in his reigning, and fifty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
DE DOCE|strong="H8147, H6240" años era Manasés cuando comenzó á reinar, y cincuenta y cinco años reinó en Jerusalem.
De doze anos era Manassés quando começou a reinar, e cinquenta e cinco anos reinou em Jerusalém.
Manassé avait douze ans lorsqu’ il devint roi, et il régna cinquante-cinq ans à Jérusalem.
Manasse war zwölf Jahre alt, da er König ward, und regierte fünfundfünzig Jahre zu Jerusalem
Manasse was twaalf jaren oud, als hij koning werd, en regeerde vijf en vijftig jaren te Jeruzalem.
Manasse avea dodici anni quando cominciò a regnare, e regnò cinquantacinque anni a Gerusalemme.
We dwunastym roku był Manases, gdy królować począł; a pięćdziesiąt i pięć lat królował w Jeruzalemie.
Двенадцати лет был Манассия, когда воцарился, и пятьдесят пять лет царствовал в Иерусалиме,
瑪拿西 登基 的時候年 十 二 歲，在耶路撒冷 作王 五十 五 年。
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he was ruling for fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 33:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that verse 1 is a standard regnal formula used by the Chronicler to introduce Manasseh’s reign, closely paralleling 2 Kings 21:1. Barnes notes that Chronicles differs from Kings mainly in the additions made later in the chapter, not this opening verse. The Cambridge Bible points out that the Chronicler omits Manasseh’s mother’s name, Hephzibah, which appears in Kings. Keil and Delitzsch observe that while the surrounding verses show rhetorical intensification, verse 1 itself is verbatim in substance. Matthew Henry remarks that the account is almost word for word with 2 Kings 21. Adam Clarke expresses surprise that a boy with a godly father could fall so quickly, suggesting he lacked a godly director. The consensus is that this verse provides the chronological framework, setting the stage for the detailed description of Manasseh’s apostasy that follows.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Manasseh became king at age 12 and reigned 55 years in Jerusalem.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Historical relationship to 2 Kings 21 | Both verses are essentially the same regnal formula. | The Chronicler omits the mother's name (Hephzibah). Some see this as a minor editing choice; others argue it reflects the Chronicler's narrower focus on religious reform. |
| Why Manasseh turned so thoroughly evil | He chose to do evil and led Judah into greater sin than the nations. | Adam Clarke emphasizes lack of godly counsel; Matthew Henry notes the parallel account and focuses on personal wickedness. Traditions vary between attributing it to corrupting court influences or to Manasseh's own rebellious will. |
| The significance of 55 years | It was a long reign, providing ample time for both evil and later repentance. | Some see the length as evidence of God's patience; others point to it as an indictment of the people who tolerated evil for so long. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The regnal formula in Chronicles follows the pattern of the Deuteronomistic History, reporting the king’s accession age, reign length, and capital. Manasseh’s 55-year reign is one of the longest in Judah, spanning roughly 698, 643 B.C. (dates vary). His youth at accession, twelve years old, made him vulnerable to court officials who likely favored the religious policies of his grandfather Ahaz over the reforms of his father Hezekiah. Hezekiah had destroyed high places and centralized worship in Jerusalem, but those changes appear to have been superficial. Easton’s Bible Dictionary describes Manasseh’s reign as a continuation of that of Ahaz in religion and national polity. The political context included Assyrian domination; Manasseh was probably a vassal of Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal.
For the Chronicler’s post-exilic audience, this period was a low point: even the temple was polluted with idols. The mention of Jerusalem in the formula is significant. This was the city where God had placed His name (see 2 Chr 33:4). The idolatry that follows becomes even more heinous in light of that. The literary context places this verse immediately after Hezekiah’s death (2 Chr 32:33), creating a sharp contrast between the faithful father and the wicked son.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and all consulted translations read identically in substance. Keil and Delitzsch remark that the divergences between Chronicles and 2 Kings begin in the following verses, not here.
Reception History
This verse has been read throughout church history primarily as an introduction to Manasseh’s apostasy and later repentance. The stark contrast between his long, wicked reign and his eventual humility before God made it a touchstone for discussions of divine patience and human sinfulness. Commentators from the Reformation era, such as Matthew Henry, used it to warn against the danger of youthful exposure to evil influences. The early church focused more on Manasseh’s prayer (preserved in some traditions but not in this book) as a model of repentance. This verse itself was rarely cited in isolation, serving instead as the factual opening to a story of hope and restoration.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The vulnerability of youth. Manasseh began at twelve, without proven guidance. Adam Clarke notes the absence of a godly director. A child in power invites disaster (Ecclesiastes 10:16).
- The length of years. Fifty-five years of evil, a long season of rebellion. God gave ample time for repentance, yet Manasseh persisted.
- The shadow of a godly heritage. Hezekiah’s reforms were undone. A good upbringing is no guarantee of faithfulness; the heart must be transformed.
Five-point outline
- An early start. Accession at age twelve. What influences shaped the young king?
- A long opportunity. Fifty-five years to do good or evil. Manasseh chose evil.
- A wasted heritage. He reversed everything his father had done (v.3). True reform requires a personal embrace of truth.
- A God who speaks. Verse 10 tells us the Lord spoke through prophets, but they did not listen. God does not remain silent when His people stray.
- A path to repentance. The rest of the chapter shows Manasseh humbled and restored. Even the worst sinner can find mercy.
Illustration hooks
- A teenager inheriting a family business or significant responsibility without mature counsel, how quickly things can go wrong.
- A garden slowly overgrown by weeds when left untended for many years. The long reign gave evil time to take deep root.
- A child of devoted parents who later rebels, breaking hearts. This verse states the fact without excuse, yet the later story offers hope.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would a good father’s child go so wrong?
- Does God’s patience (55 years) mean He tolerates sin?
- Can someone who has done terrible evil still repent and be forgiven? (Yes, as the rest of the chapter shows.)
Leading a Discussion
This short verse opens one of the darkest yet most hope-filled chapters in Chronicles. Manasseh’s long reign began early and went wrong, but his story is not over. Use these questions to explore what this formula reveals about human nature, divine patience, and the power of repentance.
Discussion questions
- What facts does verse 1 give about Manasseh? What kind of beginning do they suggest?
- Why do you think the Chronicler includes the king’s age and reign length? (Compare with 2 Chron 28:1, 29:1, 34:1.)
- How does Manasseh’s youth at accession help explain his later wickedness (see Adam Clarke’s comment)? What other factors might have been at work?
- Read verses 2, 9. What specific acts show that Manasseh turned away from the Lord? How did he undo Hezekiah’s work?
- The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, “but they would not hear” (v.10). Why do people resist God’s warnings even when they come from a trusted source?
- Later in the chapter, Manasseh repents and is restored (vv.11, 13). What does this tell us about God’s character? About the possibility of change?
- In your own life or in someone you know, what pressures or influences make it hard to stay faithful to God, especially when starting young or without strong support?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 21:1 | Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. |
| II Kings 21:18 | Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his place. |
| I Chronicles 3:13 | Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, |
| II Chronicles 32:33 | Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent to the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place. |
| II Chronicles 34:1 | Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. |
| II Chronicles 34:2 | He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left. |
| Ecclesiastes 10:16 | Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning! |
| Isaiah 3:4 | I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke focuses on the puzzle of Manasseh's terrible start. Though he likely received a godly education, the boy king apparently lacked a faithful spiritual director, leaving his young heart exposed to corruption and easily seduced into the worst idolatry.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the writer of Chronicles adds material not found in Kings, especially in the middle of this chapter. The account of Manasseh’s capture, repentance, and return to Jerusalem appears only in Chronicles, making it the distinctive contribution of this version.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Chronicler omits the name of Manasseh's mother, Hephzibah, which appears in the parallel account in Kings. This silence is noteworthy, as it marks a deliberate difference from the earlier record.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Manasseh was twelue yeere olde, when he beganne to reigne, and he reigned fiue and fiftie yeere in Ierusalem:
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that this chapter's account of Manasseh's reign, from his age onward, follows the parallel passage in 2 Kings almost word for word. He therefore refers readers to his earlier notes rather than repeating the same commentary here.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
1, 2. Manasseh . . . did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord —(See on 2 Ki 21:1-16 ). 2 Ch 33:11-19 . HE IS CARRIED UNTO BABYLON, WHERE HE HUMBLES HIMSELF BEFORE GOD, AND IS RESTORED TO HIS KINGDOM.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that the Chronicler intensifies the account of Manasseh's reign beyond Kings by using plural forms for idols and adding sorcery, the Valley of Hinnom, and piled-up terms for the law. The most significant change is substituting "graven image of the idol" for "graven image of Asherah," possibly drawing from Ezekiel.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange defends the historicity of Manasseh's captivity and conversion, citing Assyrian inscriptions that confirm a Jewish king was taken in chains to Babylon around 647 BC. He treats this event as a powerful type of conversion through divine chastisement, showing that no sinner is beyond God's reach when humbled by affliction.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that the account of Manasseh's wickedness is a melancholy repetition of the same story told in Kings. He finds no delight in describing such evil, noting it is a grievous subject not meant for pleasure.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley treats honoring the useful dead as a solemn debt, not an option. Their death removes any risk of flattery, since they are beyond reach of praise or gain, and we have seen the full pattern of their life to honestly commend.