The Meaning of 2 Kings 23:10 Explained

2 Kings 23:10

KJV: And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

YLT: And he hath defiled Topheth, that is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, so that no man doth cause his son and his daughter to pass over through fire to Molech.

Darby: And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, that no man might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

ASV: And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he defiled  Topheth,  which [is] in the valley  of the children  of Hinnom,  that no man  might make his son  or his daughter  to pass through  the fire  to Molech. 

What does 2 Kings 23:10 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 23:5-14 - Destroying Inducements To Evil
Encouraged by the prophets Zephaniah, Urijah, and perhaps Jeremiah, Josiah set himself to the work of thorough reform, in which he endeavored to carry his people. The various items mentioned here prove how deeply the heart of the nation had become corrupted. In the very Temple itself were altars and vessels for the unholy rites of Baal and Ashtaroth. Multitudes of black-hooded priests filled the streets. At the Temple gates were the horses and chariots of the sun-worship. Around the hills glittered idol shrines. These were all swept away.
In all our lives there are times when we should carefully examine ourselves-not by our own conceptions of what may be right or wrong, nor by the conventional standards which are accepted by our neighbors, but by the high and holy standards of the New Testament-the example and precepts of our Lord. We are too prone to suit our conceptions of what He requires to the fancies or choices of our own desires, instead of testing ourselves by "the pattern given in the Mount." If hand or foot or eye cause us to offend, we must show ourselves no mercy. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 23

1  Josiah causes the book to be read in a solemn assembly
3  He renews the covenant of the Lord
4  He destroys idolatry
15  He burns dead men's bones upon the altar of Bethel, as was prophesied
21  He keeps a most solemn Passover
24  He puts away witches and all abomination
26  God's final wrath against Judah
29  Josiah, provoking Pharaoh Neco, is slain at Megiddo
31  Jehoahaz, succeeding him,
33  is imprisoned by Pharaoh Neco, who makes Jehoiakim king
36  Jehoiakim's wicked reign

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 23:10 mean?

And he defiled - Tophet which [is] in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom - of the sons the Valley of the Son of Hinnom that no that no might make pass man his son or his daughter through the fire to Molech
וְטִמֵּ֣א אֶת־ הַתֹּ֔פֶת אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּגֵ֣י [בני־] (בֶן־) הִנֹּ֑ם לְבִלְתִּ֗י לְהַעֲבִ֨יר אִ֜ישׁ בְּנ֧וֹ וְאֶת־ בִּתּ֛וֹ בָּאֵ֖שׁ לַמֹּֽלֶךְ

וְטִמֵּ֣א  And  he  defiled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
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.
הַתֹּ֔פֶת  Tophet 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּפֶת  
Sense: a place in the southeast end of the valley of the son of Hinnom south of Jerusalem.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  which  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּגֵ֣י  in  the  Valley  of  the  Son  of  Hinnom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּיְא  
Sense: valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge.
[בני־]  - 
Parse:
(בֶן־)  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הִנֹּ֑ם  the  Valley  of  the  Son  of  Hinnom 
Parse: Noun, proper
Root: בֶּן־הִנּׄם 
Sense: a valley (deep and narrow ravine) with steep, rocky sides located southwest of Jerusalem, separating Mount Zion to the north from the hill of evil counsel’ and the sloping rocky plateau of the ‘plain of Rephaim’ to the south.
לְבִלְתִּ֗י  that  no 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
לְהַעֲבִ֨יר  that  no  might  make  pass 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
אִ֜ישׁ  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בְּנ֧וֹ  his  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בִּתּ֛וֹ  his  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
בָּאֵ֖שׁ  through  the  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
לַמֹּֽלֶךְ  to  Molech 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹלֶךְ  
Sense: the god of the Ammonites and Phoenicians to whom some Israelites sacrificed their infants in the valley of Hinnom.