Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 33:17
Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records this observation about King Manasseh’s reign immediately after he restores the Lord’s altar and commands Judah to serve God. The narrative captures the transitional moment between royal decree and popular practice.
The words — The Hebrew עוֹד (od) translates to "still" or "yet," marking the continuation of a prior behavior. The phrase בַּבָּמוֹת (ba-bāmōt) means "at the high places," referring to the local elevated shrines where the community gathered.
The thread — This ongoing high place worship appears in 2 Kings 15:4 and 1 Kings 22:43, where earlier kings permit local shrines to remain. It stands in direct contrast to the full dismantling of those sites recorded in 2 Chronicles 32:12.
Why it lands — The text states that official religious restoration does not instantly erase entrenched communal habits. Readers must observe that institutional correction precedes cultural change, even when the direction of worship remains correct.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 32:12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?
- 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.
- 2 Kings 15:4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
- 2 Chronicles 15:17 The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.