2 Kings 21:6

4 Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.”

5 In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.

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.

7 Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple, of which the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.

8 I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to wander from the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they are careful to do all I have commanded them—the whole Law that My servant Moses commanded them.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
ASV
And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
DARBY
And he caused his son to pass through the fire, and used magic and divination, and appointed necromancers and soothsayers: he wrought evil beyond measure in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
BLB
And he made his son pass through the fire, and he practiced divination and used witchcraft and consulted a medium and spiritists. He multiplied to do evil in the eyes of YHWH, to provoke [Him] to anger.
ÅB
Han lot sin sønn gå gjennom ilden og gav seg av med å spå av skyene og å tyde varsler og fikk seg dødningemanere og sannsigere; han gjorde meget som var ondt i Herrens øyne, så han vakte hans harme.
OTB
Og han lot sin sønn gå gjennom ilden, praktiserte trolldom og brukte spådomskunst, og hadde omgang med åndemanere og spåmenn. Han gjorde mye ondt i Herrens øyne og vakte hans vrede.
B1930
Han lot sin sønn gå gjennem ilden og gav sig av med å spå av skyene og å tyde varsler og fikk sig dødningemanere og sannsigere; han gjorde meget som var ondt i Herrens øine, så han vakte hans harme.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:26

    You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 18:10–14

    Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6

    He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of 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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 8:19

    When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

    Read in context