# Prayer of Manasseh

> work of 15 verses, ostensibly the penitential prayer of king Manasseh of Judah; written in Greek, in the 1st or 2nd century BCE; part of some versions of the Orthodox deuterocanon

**Wikidata**: [Q1337449](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1337449)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Manasseh)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/prayer-of-manasseh

## Summary
The Prayer of Manasseh is a 15-verse penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh of Judah, composed in Greek between the 1st and 2nd centuries BCE. It is included in some versions of the Orthodox deuterocanon but is not part of the Hebrew Bible or Protestant canon. The text reflects themes of repentance and divine mercy, offering insight into Jewish theological traditions of the Second Temple period.

## Key Facts
- **Aliases**: Also known as the *Prayer of Manasses*.  
- **Composition Date**: Written in the 1st or 2nd century BCE.  
- **Language**: Originally composed in Greek.  
- **Structure**: Consists of 15 verses.  
- **Attribution**: Ostensibly the prayer of King Manasseh of Judah, referenced in 2 Chronicles 33:11-13.  
- **Canonical Status**: Part of the deuterocanonical books in some Orthodox traditions; classified as Old Testament apocrypha.  
- **Religious Classification**: Categorized as a Jewish apocryphon and a literary/religious text.  
- **Related Figures**: King Manasseh (ruler of Judah, 7th century BCE).  
- **Sitelink Count**: 37 (Wikidata).  

## FAQs
- **Q: Who wrote the Prayer of Manasseh?**  
  A: The prayer is traditionally attributed to King Manasseh of Judah, though modern scholars date its composition to the 1st–2nd century BCE, long after his reign.  

- **Q: Why is the Prayer of Manasseh considered apocryphal?**  
  A: It is not included in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant Old Testament but is recognized as deuterocanonical in some Orthodox Christian traditions.  

- **Q: What is the significance of its Greek composition?**  
  A: Despite being associated with a Judean king, the text was written in Greek, reflecting Hellenistic Jewish literary traditions of the Second Temple era.  

- **Q: How is the Prayer of Manasseh used today?**  
  A: It appears in liturgical contexts in certain Orthodox churches and is studied for its insights into ancient Jewish and early Christian piety.  

## Why It Matters  
The Prayer of Manasseh is significant for its exploration of repentance and divine forgiveness, themes central to both Jewish and Christian theology. As a deuterocanonical work, it highlights the fluid boundaries of scriptural authority in early religious communities. Its Greek composition underscores the cultural and linguistic diversity of Second Temple Judaism, while its attribution to a historically controversial figure (King Manasseh, criticized in the Hebrew Bible for idolatry) demonstrates efforts to reinterpret and redeem problematic narratives. The text also serves as a bridge between Jewish apocalyptic traditions and early Christian liturgical practices.

## Notable For  
- **Unique Attribution**: One of the few biblical-era prayers attributed to a specific, historically documented figure (King Manasseh).  
- **Theological Emphasis**: Exceptional focus on confession of sins and appeal for divine mercy, influencing later penitential traditions.  
- **Cultural Hybridity**: Reflects the Hellenization of Jewish thought, blending Greek literary styles with Hebrew religious motifs.  
- **Canonical Ambiguity**: Its disputed status (apocryphal vs. deuterocanonical) illustrates broader debates over scriptural authority in antiquity.  

## Body  
### **Historical Context**  
The prayer is linked to King Manasseh of Judah (r. c. 687–642 BCE), whose reign is described in 2 Kings 21:1–18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1–20. While the Hebrew Bible condemns his idolatry, 2 Chronicles 33:11–13 mentions his repentance during imprisonment, which the Prayer of Manasseh elaborates upon. However, scholars date the prayer’s composition to the 1st–2nd century BCE, situating it within the broader context of Second Temple Jewish literature.  

### **Content and Structure**  
The 15-verse text follows a penitential structure:  
- **Verses 1–7**: Confession of sins and acknowledgment of divine justice.  
- **Verses 8–14**: Appeal for forgiveness, emphasizing God’s mercy and omnipotence.  
- **Verse 15**: Doxology praising God’s glory and power.  
Notable themes include the universality of divine rule, the efficacy of repentance, and the interplay between human sinfulness and divine compassion.  

### **Religious Significance**  
- **Deuterocanonical Status**: Included in the Septuagint and Orthodox Old Testament but excluded from the Masoretic Text and most Protestant Bibles.  
- **Liturgical Use**: Recited in some Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic traditions during Lent or penitential services.  
- **Theological Influence**: Reflects the development of individualized, interiorized piety characteristic of late Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity.  

### **Textual History**  
- **Language and Transmission**: Composed in Greek, though possibly translating earlier Semitic traditions. The oldest surviving manuscripts include the Codex Sinaiticus (4th century CE).  
- **Manuscript Variations**: Minor textual differences exist among Greek, Latin, and Syriac versions, though the core structure remains consistent.  
- **Scholarly Debates**: Discussions focus on whether the prayer reflects Hellenistic Jewish or early Christian influences, given its emphasis on universal salvation and divine transcendence.  

### **Connections to Related Works**  
- **Old Testament Apocrypha**: Grouped with texts like 1 Esdras and Psalm 151, which share similar themes of spiritual reflection and moral instruction.  
- **Jewish Apocrypha**: Studied alongside works such as the Book of Jubilees and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which also explore righteousness and divine judgment.  
- **Deuterocanonical Books**: Its inclusion in this category underscores its liminal status as “supplementary” scripture, valued for edification but not universally accepted as authoritative.  

### **Cultural and Literary Impact**  
The prayer’s concise yet profound meditation on sin and redemption has inspired later devotional literature, including medieval penitential psalms and Orthodox hesychastic traditions. Its attribution to a repentant monarch also contributed to the hagiographic tradition of portraying flawed leaders as models of spiritual transformation.

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. FactGrid