What Does 2 Chronicles 33:20 Mean in the King James?

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 33:20 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew for “in his stead” makes succession a matter of place: when Manasseh is laid down, Amon occupies the position he leaves.

THE MEANING

A ruler’s life reaches its end, and his son steps into the place his reign leaves open. Burial and succession stand together: one life is laid away while the office continues under another person.

THE ROOT

תַּחְתָּיו

taḥtav

GROWS FROM

תחת

taḥat

Under, beneath; also in the place of or instead of.

“in his stead” in this verse is taḥtav. The phrase pictures succession as occupying a position left by someone else. English makes “stead” sound abstract; the Hebrew keeps the sense of place, so Amon takes the position Manasseh leaves.

ALSO GROWS

taḥat: Under, beneath; in place of.

תַּחַת

This is the root’s spatial sense and the same word family used for the successor’s place in the verse.

taḥtit: Lower part, bottom, depths.

תַּחְתִּית

This related form keeps the root’s image grounded in position: what is lower or beneath.

THE PATTERN

When a ruler’s life ends, succession fills the place his office leaves open.

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 32:33 · KJVHezekiah’s death closes his reign, and Manasseh takes the place his father leaves.

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 · KJVA generation gives way to the next, while what outlasts both remains.

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

Hebrews 7:23 · KJVDeath prevents any one priest from continuing, so the office passes through successive holders.

THE THREAD

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 32:33 · KJV

The same succession pattern appears one generation earlier: Hezekiah dies, and Manasseh takes his place. Together, the verses show the throne passing from father to son, then from Manasseh to Amon.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us