The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 33:11 Explained

2 Chronicles 33:11

KJV: Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

YLT: and Jehovah bringeth in against them the heads of the host that the king of Asshur hath, and they capture Manasseh among the thickets, and bind him with brazen fetters, and cause him to go to Babylon.

Darby: And Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with fetters, and bound him with chains of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

ASV: Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore the LORD  brought  upon them the captains of  the host of  the king  of Assyria,  which took  Manasseh  among the thorns,  and bound him  with fetters,  and carried  him to Babylon. 

What does 2 Chronicles 33:11 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 33:11 mean?

Therefore brought Yahweh upon them - the captains of the army of the king of Assyria and who took Manasseh with hooks and bound him with bronze [fetters] and carried him off to Babylon
וַיָּבֵ֨א יְהוָ֜ה עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֤י הַצָּבָא֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר וַיִּלְכְּד֥וּ מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה בַּחֹחִ֑ים וַיַּֽאַסְרֻ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֖הוּ בָּבֶֽלָה

וַיָּבֵ֨א  Therefore  brought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יְהוָ֜ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם  upon  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
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.
שָׂרֵ֤י  the  captains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַצָּבָא֙  of  the  army 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אַשּׁ֔וּר  of  Assyria 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשּׁוּר  
Sense: the second son of Shem, eponymous ancestor of the Assyrians.
וַיִּלְכְּד֥וּ  and  who  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה  Manasseh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
בַּחֹחִ֑ים  with  hooks 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹוחַ  
Sense: thorn, brier, bramble, thornbush, thicket.
וַיַּֽאַסְרֻ֙הוּ֙  and  bound  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַר  
Sense: to tie, bind, imprison.
בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם  with  bronze  [fetters] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, fd
Root: נְחֹשֶׁת 
Sense: copper, bronze.
וַיּוֹלִיכֻ֖הוּ  and  carried  him  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בָּבֶֽלָה  to  Babylon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל  
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.