2 Kings 21:5 In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.

◄ 2 Kings 21:5 ►

New International Version
In the two courts of the temple of the LORD, he built altars to all the starry hosts.

New Living Translation
He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the LORD’s Temple.

English Standard Version
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

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

King James Bible
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

New King James Version
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
He built altars for all the heavenly lights in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD.

NASB 1995
For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

NASB 1977
For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed, he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
He built altars to all the stars in the sky in both courtyards of the LORD’s temple.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He built altars to the whole heavenly host in both courtyards of the LORD’s temple.

American Standard Version
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
and the stars. He placed these altars in both courts of the temple,

English Revised Version
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the two courtyards of the LORD's temple, he built altars for the entire army of heaven.

Good News Translation
In the two courtyards of the Temple he built altars for the worship of the stars.

International Standard Version
He built two altars to every star in the heavens in the two courts of the LORD's Temple.

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

NET Bible
In the two courtyards of the LORD's temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

New Heart English Bible
He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

World English Bible
He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he builds altars to all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
And he buildeth altars to all the host of the heavens in the two courts of the house of Jehovah;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will build altars to all the army of the heavens in the two enclosures of the house of Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the temple of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he constructed altars, for the entire army of heaven, within the two courts of the temple of the Lord.

New American Bible
And he built altars for the whole host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he built altars to all the host of Heaven in the two courtyards of the house of LORD JEHOVAH.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he built an altar to all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Manasseh Reigns in Judah
…4Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name.” 5In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven. 6He 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Chronicles 33:5
In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.

Jeremiah 19:13
The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”

Zephaniah 1:5
those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

Deuteronomy 4:19
When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

Deuteronomy 17:3
and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—

2 Kings 17:16
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

Jeremiah 8:2
They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.

Jeremiah 7:18
The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

Ezekiel 8:16
So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.

Acts 7:42
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Colossians 2:18
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Treasury of Scripture

And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

in the two courts.

2 Kings 23:4,6
And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel…

1 Kings 6:36
And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.

1 Kings 7:12
And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

Jump to Previous

Altars Army Buildeth Built Courts Heaven Heavens Host Hosts House Outer Sky Squares Starry Stars Temple

Jump to Next

Altars Army Buildeth Built Courts Heaven Heavens Host Hosts House Outer Sky Squares Starry Stars Temple

2 Kings 21

1. Manasseh's reign.
3. His great idolatry.
10. His wickedness causes prophecies against Judah.
17. Amon succeeds him.
19. Amon's wicked reign.
23. He being slain by his servants, and those murderers slain by the people,
26. Josiah is made king.

Berean Study Bible

In both courtyards
The phrase "In both courtyards" refers to the two main areas within the temple complex in Jerusalem: the inner and outer courtyards. These courtyards were integral to the temple's design, serving as spaces for worship and sacrifice. The inner courtyard was reserved for the priests, while the outer courtyard was accessible to the people. The desecration of these sacred spaces by building altars to foreign deities highlights the extent of King Manasseh's apostasy. Historically, the temple was the center of Jewish worship, and its defilement would have been seen as a direct affront to God.

of the house of the LORD
The "house of the LORD" refers to Solomon's Temple, a sacred place where the Israelites believed God's presence dwelled. The Hebrew term for "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) signifies not just a physical structure but a dwelling place for God's name and glory. The temple was a symbol of the covenant between God and Israel, and its defilement by Manasseh's actions represented a severe breach of this covenant. This act of sacrilege would have been deeply troubling to the faithful, as it signified a turning away from the worship of Yahweh.

he built altars
The act of building altars in the temple courtyards was a direct violation of God's commandments. The Hebrew word for "altars" (מִזְבְּחוֹת, mizbechot) typically refers to structures used for sacrifices and offerings. In the context of Israelite worship, altars were meant for sacrifices to Yahweh alone. By constructing altars for other deities, Manasseh was not only introducing idolatry but also corrupting the very heart of Israel's worship practices. This action reflects a broader pattern of syncretism and rebellion against God's laws during Manasseh's reign.

to all the host of heaven
The phrase "to all the host of heaven" indicates the worship of celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars. This form of idolatry was common among neighboring pagan cultures and was explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 4:19). The Hebrew term for "host" (צָבָא, tsaba) can mean an army or multitude, emphasizing the vast array of heavenly bodies that were being worshiped. This practice represented a significant departure from monotheism and was seen as a rejection of God's sovereignty over creation. Manasseh's actions in promoting such worship were a stark contrast to the exclusive devotion to Yahweh that was central to Israelite identity.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) In the two courts.--Even in the inner and more sacred court, where the sacrifices were offered to Jehovah.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. The temple of Solomon had two courts only, an inner and an outer. The outer court was for the people, the inner for the priests and Levites. Manasseh desecrated the temple to the extent of setting up in each of these two courts an idolatrous altar, dedicated to the worship of the host of heaven. In the inner court his altar was a rival to the great brazen altar of Solomon (1 Kings 9:64; 2 Chronicles 4:1), which Ahaz had for a time removed from its place in front of the porch (2 Kings 16:14), but which Hezekiah had most certainly reinstated.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

In both
בִּשְׁתֵּ֖י (biš·tê)
Preposition-b | Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

courtyards
חַצְר֥וֹת (ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

of the house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the LORD,
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

he built
וַיִּ֥בֶן (way·yi·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

altars
מִזְבְּח֖וֹת (miz·bə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4196: An altar

to all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the host
צְבָ֣א (ṣə·ḇā)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

of heaven.
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (haš·šā·mā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

Links

2 Kings 21:5 NIV
2 Kings 21:5 NLT
2 Kings 21:5 ESV
2 Kings 21:5 NASB
2 Kings 21:5 KJV

2 Kings 21:5 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 21:5 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 21:5 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 21:5 French Bible
2 Kings 21:5 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 21:5 He built altars for all the army (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)