The Meaning of 2 Kings 20:21 Explained

2 Kings 20:21

KJV: And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

YLT: And Hezekiah lieth with his fathers, and reign doth Manasseh his son in his stead.

Darby: And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

ASV: And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Hezekiah  slept  with his fathers:  and Manasseh  his son  reigned  in his stead. 

What does 2 Kings 20:21 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 20:12-21 - A Mistake And Its Penalty
God does not always prolong life in answer to prayer, and we should always leave such things submissively to Him, because He may see reasons why it would be far better for us to be removed from this world of temptation and sorrow. If Hezekiah had been taken away by early death, he would never have incurred the terrible sentence of 2 Kings 20:16, etc.
Let us watch against the sin of ostentation. It was a foolish act on the part of the king, because he aroused in these ambassadors desire and greed, which they communicated to their sovereign. There is too much of this spirit in us all. What a solemn inquiry that is, "What have they seen in thy house?" If that inquiry were put to us, we should too often have to confess that our visitors have not seen our piety, our family worship, the decorous behavior of our children, our love and devotion; but that they have seen our dresses and our ornaments, our best linen and our plate. Alas for us, if these are our treasures, and we have nothing behind them of the priceless jewels and wealth of Christian character! At the best we are only caretakers and stewards; we have nothing that we have not received! 1 Corinthians 4:7. Let us remember that at any time the Master of the House may arrive! Matthew 24:44. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 20

1  Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened
8  The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise
12  Berodach-baladan sending to visit Hezekiah has notice of his treasures
14  Isaiah understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity
20  Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 20:21 mean?

so rested Hezekiah with his fathers and reigned Manasseh his son in his place -
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִם־ אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו פ

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב  so  rested 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ  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.
אֲבֹתָ֑יו  his  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ  and  reigned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה  Manasseh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
בְנ֖וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
תַּחְתָּֽיו  in  his  place 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation