Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 KINGS 21:16KJV
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2 Kings 21:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 21:16 mean?

2 Kings 21:16 says that King Manasseh was responsible for shedding a great deal of innocent blood in Jerusalem, so much that it filled the city from one end to the other. This was in addition to leading Judah into sin by doing evil in the LORD’s sight.

The verse is part of a summary about Manasseh’s reign, written by the author of Kings to the people of Israel and Judah. It highlights the extreme violence and moral corruption under Manasseh, not only through idolatry but also through acts of injustice and murder. The statement about filling Jerusalem with innocent blood shows the scale and seriousness of his wrongdoing.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 21:16

  • "Shed" (שָׁפַךְ, shafakh) means to pour out or spill, here describing the deliberate act of causing bloodshed. The word emphasizes the violence and intentional harm done.
  • "Innocent" (נָקִי, naqi) refers to those who are guiltless or blameless, stressing that the victims did not deserve death. This highlights the injustice of Manasseh’s actions.
  • "Blood" (דָּם, dam) is a common Hebrew term for blood, often used to represent life taken unjustly. Its use here underlines the seriousness of murder in biblical law.
  • "Filled" (מָלֵא, male) means to fill up or make full. Saying Jerusalem was filled from "one end to another" paints a picture of widespread violence, not just isolated incidents.

Why 2 Kings 21:16 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Manasseh’s evil was not limited to religious sins like idolatry but included widespread violence and injustice against innocent people.
  • It shows why later generations saw Manasseh as one of the worst kings, helping explain the severity of Judah’s coming judgment.
  • The scale of the bloodshed—filling Jerusalem—emphasizes just how far the nation had fallen under his rule, connecting to the larger theme of decline in the book of Kings.

Where else these words appear

“innocent” Hebrew H5355 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 24:41 Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
  • Joshua 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
  • Psalms 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

“shed” Hebrew H8210 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
  • Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
  • Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

“Manasseh” Hebrew H4519 · used in 133 verses

  • Genesis 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
  • Joshua 17:5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
  • 1 Chronicles 5:18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.