In the Bible, the name Manasseh means “causing to forget” or “he who makes to forget,” referring to Joseph’s experience of God helping him forget his hardships and the troubles of his family (Genesis 41:51). Manasseh was also one of the tribes of Israel, named after Joseph’s eldest son, and he is often associated with both blessings and the consequences of straying from God’s commandments.
Scripture
50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph.
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”
52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Meaning of Manasseh in the Bible
The name Manasseh, which means “causing to forget,” encapsulates a significant theme in the biblical narrative, particularly in Joseph’s life story. In Genesis 41:51, Joseph names his firstborn son Manasseh, declaring, “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” This denotes not only the alleviation of his past sufferings and familial strife but also signifies a divine act of healing. Joseph’s journey from favored son to slave and prisoner, and eventually to a position of power in Egypt, highlights God’s providential hand at work. The concept of forgetting in this context reflects God’s ability to transform pain into a new beginning, emphasizing the redemptive power available through faith.
Moreover, the tribe of Manasseh, one of the largest tribes in Israel, plays a crucial role in the history of the Israelites, both in their blessings and their failures. While they initially experienced great blessings in the Promised Land, they also exemplified the dangers of forgetting God’s commandments. As noted in Joshua 17, the tribe struggled with fully conquering the land assigned to them and often fell into idolatry, illustrating the ease with which one can forget God’s commands amid prosperity. This duality within Manasseh serves as a broader cautionary tale regarding the importance of remembrance in the spiritual journey. The connection to the themes of forgetfulness and memory underscores a vital lesson — that while God enables us to overcome our past, we must deliberately remember His faithfulness to resist the allure of turning away from Him.
In the broader biblical context, the figure of Manasseh serves as a poignant reminder that the act of forgetting can have complex implications, not only on an individual level but also for entire communities. The legacy of Manasseh extends beyond Joseph’s personal narrative; it is woven into the history of the Israelite people. As the biblical story unfolds, particularly during the period of the judges and the monarchy, we see variations of this theme. For instance, the infamous King Manasseh of Judah, who ruled during the 7th century BCE, represents a stark reversal of faithfulness. His reign is marked by an egregious departure from the worship of Yahweh, as he embraced practices that directly contradicted God’s commandments. This drastic shift illustrates a profound forgetting—not just of personal suffering, but of covenantal fidelity. His story shapes the consequences of spiritual amnesia: a nation grappling with idolatry and the eventual call to repentance.
Furthermore, the contrast between the original meaning of Manasseh and the actions of King Manasseh can be viewed through the lens of redemption and restoration. As the narrative progresses in the books of Kings and Chronicles, we see God’s patience even amidst failures. Though King Manasseh fell deeply into sin, there is a moment of radical transformation when he repents during captivity, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and mercy. This moment of repentance serves as a testament to the possibility of redemption, even when one has strayed far from the path. The significance of Manasseh lies not only in the lessons it provides about individual and collective memory but also in the hopeful message that God can bring healing and renewal, no matter how deeply one may forget. This duality—simultaneously a warning about forgetting and an invitation to remember God’s grace—permeates the biblical text, encouraging believers to hold tightly to their faith amidst life’s complexities.
The Concept of Forgetting and Forgiveness
The name Manasseh is often associated with the idea of forgetting, particularly in the context of personal struggles and past hardships. This broader meaning reflects the human experience of overcoming difficulties and the importance of forgiveness, both of oneself and others. In a spiritual sense, it signifies the ability to let go of past grievances and embrace a new beginning, highlighting the transformative power of faith and divine intervention.
The Duality of Blessing and Burden
Manasseh also embodies the duality of blessing and burden. While the name signifies the act of forgetting, it also serves as a reminder of the challenges that accompany blessings. This duality can be seen in the lives of individuals who experience both joy and sorrow, success and failure. The narrative surrounding Manasseh illustrates how one can navigate the complexities of life, balancing the weight of past experiences with the hope of future blessings.
The Legacy of Leadership and Influence
In a broader context, Manasseh represents the themes of leadership and influence within the biblical narrative. As a significant figure in the lineage of Israel, the name carries connotations of responsibility and the impact of one’s actions on future generations. This aspect emphasizes the importance of wise leadership and the moral choices that shape the course of history, encouraging individuals to consider the legacy they leave behind.
How to Embrace Forgiveness for Spiritual Growth
Embracing forgiveness is a transformative journey that can significantly enhance your spiritual growth as a Christian. It begins with recognizing that forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continuous process that reflects the grace God extends to us daily. When you find it challenging to forgive someone, take a moment to reflect on the countless times you have sought God’s mercy and love despite your shortcomings. This perspective can soften your heart and help you see the person who wronged you through a lens of compassion rather than resentment. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean condoning the hurtful actions; rather, it’s about freeing yourself from the burden of anger and allowing God’s peace to fill that space. As you practice forgiveness, you’ll find that it not only heals your spirit but also deepens your relationship with God, drawing you closer to the heart of Christ, who forgave even in the face of immense suffering. So, take that brave step today—let go of the past, and watch how your faith flourishes in the light of forgiveness.
Bible References to the Meaning of Manasseh:
Genesis 48:13-20: 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).
15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.”
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
2 Kings 21:1-18: 1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.”
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.”
9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
10 And the Lord said by his servants the prophets,
11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,”
12 therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.
13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
14 And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,
15 because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.”
16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 33:1-20: 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asherahs, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.”
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
7 And the carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land that I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.
9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention.
11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. And he put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah.
15 And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city.
16 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
19 And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers.
20 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done.
Jeremiah 15:4: 4 And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.
Judges 18:30: 30 And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
Revelation 7:4-8: 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000 were sealed,
7 The tribe of Simeon 12,000
8 the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, the tribe of Joseph 12,000, the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.