The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 33:12 Explained

2 Chronicles 33:12

KJV: And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

YLT: And when he is in distress he hath appeased the face of Jehovah his God, and is humbled exceedingly before the God of his fathers,

Darby: And when he was in affliction, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

ASV: And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when he was in affliction,  he besought  the LORD  his God,  and humbled  himself greatly  before  the God  of his fathers, 

What does 2 Chronicles 33:12 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 33:12 mean?

And when was in affliction he he implored - before the face of Yahweh his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers
וּכְהָצֵ֣ר ל֔וֹ חִלָּ֕ה אֶת־ פְּנֵ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע מְאֹ֔ד מִלִּפְנֵ֖י אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתָֽיו

וּכְהָצֵ֣ר  And  when  was  in  affliction 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.
חִלָּ֕ה  he  implored 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
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.
פְּנֵ֖י  before  the  face  of 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהָ֑יו  his  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע  and  humbled  himself 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּנַע  
Sense: to be humble, be humbled, be subdued, be brought down, be low, be under, be brought into subjection.
מְאֹ֔ד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
מִלִּפְנֵ֖י  before 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אֱלֹהֵ֥י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲבֹתָֽיו  of  his  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.