2 Kings 15:4
New International Version
The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

New Living Translation
But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

English Standard Version
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

King James Bible
Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

New King James Version
except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

New American Standard Bible
Only the high places were not eliminated; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

NASB 1995
Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

NASB 1977
Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

Legacy Standard Bible
Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

Amplified Bible
Only [the altars on] the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [instead of worshiping God at the temple].

Christian Standard Bible
Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

American Standard Version
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Contemporary English Version
But Azariah did not destroy the local shrines, and they were still used as places for offering sacrifices.

English Revised Version
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the illegal places of worship were still not torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites.

Good News Translation
But the pagan places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

International Standard Version
except that the high places were never removed, and the people kept on sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Majority Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

NET Bible
But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

New Heart English Bible
However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Webster's Bible Translation
Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

World English Bible
However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
only, the high places have not been removed—the people are still sacrificing and making incense in high places.

Young's Literal Translation
only, the high places have not turned aside -- yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.

Smith's Literal Translation
But the heights were not turned away: the people yet sacrificing and burning incense upon the heights.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the high places he did not destroy: for the people sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, he did not demolish the high places. And still the people were sacrificing, and burning incense, in the high places.

New American Bible
though the high places did not disappear, and the people continued to sacrifice and to burn incense on the high places.

New Revised Standard Version
Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the temple of idols he did not remove; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However he did not remove the high places, and the people were still sacrificing and putting incense on the high places.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and offered in the high places.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only he took not away any of the high places: as yet the people sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Azariah Reigns in Judah
3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. 5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.…

Cross References
1 Kings 15:14
The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.

2 Kings 12:3
Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

2 Kings 14:4
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

2 Kings 16:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Kings 17:9-11
The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. / They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.

2 Chronicles 15:17
The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.

2 Chronicles 20:33
The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

1 Kings 22:43
And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

1 Kings 3:2-3
The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built. / And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.

2 Kings 21:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

2 Kings 23:5
Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.

2 Chronicles 33:17
Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

Isaiah 1:29
Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.


Treasury of Scripture

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

the high places

2 Kings 15:35
Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 14:4
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Jump to Previous
Burn Burned Burning Burnt Continued High Howbeit However Incense Making Nevertheless Offer Offered Offerings Perfume Places Removed Sacrificed Sacrifices Sacrificing Save Turned
Jump to Next
Burn Burned Burning Burnt Continued High Howbeit However Incense Making Nevertheless Offer Offered Offerings Perfume Places Removed Sacrificed Sacrifices Sacrificing Save Turned
2 Kings 15
1. Azariah's good reign
5. He dying a leper, is succeeded by Jotham
8. Zachariah the last of Jehu's generation, reigning ill, is slain by Shallum
13. Shallum, reigning a month, is slain by Nenahem
16. Menahem strengthens himself by Pul
21. Pekahiah succeeds him
23. Pekahiah is slain by Pekah
27. Pekah is oppressed by Tiglath-pileser, and slain by Hoshea
32. Jotham's good reign
36. Ahaz succeeds him














Nevertheless
This word serves as a pivot, indicating a contrast or exception to what has been previously stated. In the context of 2 Kings 15, it highlights the ongoing issue despite the reign of a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The Hebrew root for "nevertheless" often conveys a sense of persistence or continuation, suggesting that despite reforms or positive actions, certain issues remained unresolved. This serves as a reminder of the persistent nature of sin and the challenges of fully aligning a nation with God's will.

the high places
These were elevated sites often used for worship, both of Yahweh and of foreign gods. The Hebrew term "bamah" refers to these locations, which were prevalent throughout Israel and Judah. Archaeological evidence suggests that high places were used for religious rituals, including sacrifices and offerings. Despite their association with idolatry, they were sometimes used for Yahweh worship, which complicated efforts to remove them. The persistence of high places indicates the deep-rooted nature of syncretism and the difficulty of eradicating idolatrous practices from Israelite society.

were not taken away
This phrase underscores the failure to remove these sites of worship, which were contrary to the centralization of worship in Jerusalem as prescribed in Deuteronomy 12. The Hebrew verb here implies a lack of action or completion, suggesting negligence or inability to fully enforce religious reforms. This highlights the limitations of human leadership and the need for divine intervention to achieve true spiritual renewal.

the people continued sacrificing
The Hebrew verb for "continued" suggests habitual action, indicating that the people were persistently engaged in these practices. Sacrificing on high places was a common practice, reflecting the people's attachment to traditional forms of worship. This persistence reveals the challenge of transforming cultural and religious habits, even in the face of prophetic warnings and kingly reforms.

and burning incense
Burning incense was a significant part of ancient Near Eastern worship, symbolizing prayers and offerings ascending to the deity. The Hebrew term for incense, "qetoreth," is often associated with both legitimate and illegitimate worship practices. The continuation of incense burning on high places signifies a blending of religious practices, where the form of worship was maintained, but the location and context were contrary to God's commands.

on the high places
Reiterating the location emphasizes the ongoing issue of improper worship. The repetition of "high places" in this verse serves to highlight the central problem of divided worship and the people's reluctance to fully commit to the worship of Yahweh alone. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising true worship with cultural or traditional practices that are not aligned with God's instructions.

Verse 4. - Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places (comp. 2 Kings 14:4, and the comment ad loc.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nevertheless,
רַ֥ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

the high places
הַבָּמ֖וֹת (hab·bā·mō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation

were not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

taken away;
סָ֑רוּ (sā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

the people
הָעָ֛ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

continued
ע֥וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

sacrificing
מְזַבְּחִ֥ים (mə·zab·bə·ḥîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

and burning incense
וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים (ū·mə·qaṭ·ṭə·rîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

[there].
בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃ (bab·bā·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation


Links
2 Kings 15:4 NIV
2 Kings 15:4 NLT
2 Kings 15:4 ESV
2 Kings 15:4 NASB
2 Kings 15:4 KJV

2 Kings 15:4 BibleApps.com
2 Kings 15:4 Biblia Paralela
2 Kings 15:4 Chinese Bible
2 Kings 15:4 French Bible
2 Kings 15:4 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Kings 15:4 However the high places were not taken (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 15:3
Top of Page
Top of Page