Bible Strands
2 Kings 12:3
Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative describes King Joash’s reign during the temple restoration, placed immediately after noting his righteous conduct while Jehoiada instructed him and immediately before his decree to collect funds for the sanctuary.
The words — The Hebrew uses רַק (rak), meaning “only” or “nevertheless,” to mark a contrast, and עוֹד (od), meaning “still,” to indicate the ongoing nature of the people’s actions.
The thread — The statement that “the high places were not removed” alongside continued sacrifice appears in 2 Kings 14:4 and 1 Kings 22:43, while 1 Kings 15:14 records the same general condition without employing the identical Hebrew phrasing.
Why it lands — The verse demands that readers separate individual piety from corporate religious practice, noting that a leader’s personal alignment with God’s instruction does not automatically eradicate entrenched national idolatry.
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
But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 14:4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
- 1 Kings 15:14 The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.
- 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 15:35 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.
- 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 Chronicles 31:4 Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 2:20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.