And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

2 KINGS 21:7KJV
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2 Kings 21:7 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 21:7 mean?

2 Kings 21:7 describes how King Manasseh placed a carved idol, called here "the grove," inside the temple in Jerusalem, even though God had told David and Solomon that this temple was chosen as the place where His name would remain forever. The verse highlights a direct violation of God's command by bringing an idol into the very place God had set apart for Himself.

The verse is set during the reign of Manasseh, king of Judah, who is known in the Bible for leading the people into idol worship. The "house" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, and the "graven image of the grove" points to an idol associated with the goddess Asherah. This act is shown as especially serious because it defies God's specific promise to David and Solomon about the temple's holiness and purpose.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 21:7

  • "graven image" (פֶּסֶל, pesel): This word means a carved or sculpted idol, usually made to represent a god. Its use here stresses that Manasseh brought a physical, man-made object into the temple, which was strictly forbidden.
  • "grove" (אֲשֵׁרָה, asherah): This term often refers to a wooden pole or image linked to the Canaanite goddess Asherah. Mentioning it here shows that the idol was not just any image, but one tied to foreign worship practices.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayit): In this context, "house" means the temple, the central place of worship for Israel. The verse emphasizes the seriousness of placing an idol in the very spot God had chosen for His presence.
  • "put my name" (שִׂים שֵׁם, sim shem): This phrase means that God had chosen the temple as the place where His presence and reputation would dwell. The contrast is strong: instead of God's name, an idol is now present.

Why 2 Kings 21:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies just how far Manasseh went in rejecting God's instructions, not just worshipping idols elsewhere but bringing them into the temple itself.
  • It highlights the importance of the temple in Jerusalem as a unique place chosen by God, making Manasseh's actions especially shocking to the original audience.
  • The verse connects back to God's promises to David and Solomon, showing that Manasseh's choices were not just personal failings but a direct challenge to God's covenant and the identity of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“image” Hebrew H6459 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
  • Judges 18:17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
  • Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

“grove” Hebrew H842 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
  • 1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.