The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 33:3 Explained

2 Chronicles 33:3

KJV: For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

YLT: and he turneth and buildeth the high places that Hezekiah his father hath broken down, and raiseth altars for Baalim, and maketh shrines, and boweth himself to all the host of the heavens, and serveth them.

Darby: And he built again the high places that Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars to the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshipped all the host of heaven and served them.

ASV: For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he built  again  the high places  which Hezekiah  his father  had broken down,  and he reared up  altars  for Baalim,  and made  groves,  and worshipped  all the host  of heaven,  and served  them. 

What does 2 Chronicles 33:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Chronicles 33:1-13 - Affliction Teaches Humility
Because of his youth Manasseh was probably the more easily influenced by the reactionary party, who came back to power on Hezekiah's death; but afterward, in his early manhood, he pursued still further these evil courses, and made Judah and Jerusalem to err. Warning voices protested in vain, until there was no alternative save the hooks and fetters of the king of Assyria. But in his dungeon in the far country he came to himself and God.
The words describing his penitence are very strong, suggesting long-continued tortures of conscience, and much agony of remorse. How quickly God heard him, and how incredible was his restoration! Here was a captive for life, as it seemed; yet he is not only set free, but actually restored to his kingdom and established on his throne. There is much hope for us all in this. If we truly repent of our sins, we shall be forgiven, and not only forgiven but restored again to our kingdom. Let us believe that God not only casts away our sins, but restores our soul. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 33

1  Manasseh's wicked reign
3  He sets up idolatry, and will not be admonished
11  He is carried into Babylon
12  Upon his prayer to God he is released and puts down idolatry
18  His acts
20  He dying, Amon succeeds him
21  who is slain by his servants
25  The murderers being slain, Josiah succeeds him

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 33:3 mean?

For and he rebuilt - the high places which had broken down Hezekiah his father and he raised up altars for the Baals and made wooden images and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them
וַיָּ֗שָׁב וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ אֶת־ הַבָּמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִתַּ֖ץ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ אָבִ֑יו וַיָּ֨קֶם מִזְבְּח֤וֹת לַבְּעָלִים֙ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֲשֵׁר֔וֹת וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ לְכָל־ צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ד אֹתָֽם

וַיִּ֙בֶן֙  and  he  rebuilt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַבָּמ֔וֹת  the  high  places 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
נִתַּ֖ץ  had  broken  down 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָתַץ  
Sense: to pull down, break down, cast down, throw down, beat down, destroy, overthrow, break out (teeth).
יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ  Hezekiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִזְקִיָּה 
Sense: 2th king of Judah, son of Ahaz and Abijah; a good king in that he served Jehovah and did away with idolatrous practices.
אָבִ֑יו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיָּ֨קֶם  and  he  raised  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
מִזְבְּח֤וֹת  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
לַבְּעָלִים֙  for  the  Baals 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעַל  
Sense: supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ  and  made 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֲשֵׁר֔וֹת  wooden  images 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֲשֵׁרָה  
Sense: a Babylonian (Astarte)-Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the supposed consort of Baal, her images.
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙  and  he  worshiped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
צְבָ֣א  the  host 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם  of  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ד  and  served 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.