2 Kings 14:4 kjv
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
2 Kings 14:4 nkjv
However the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
2 Kings 14:4 niv
The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
2 Kings 14:4 esv
But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.
2 Kings 14:4 nlt
Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
2 Kings 14 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 15:14 | "But the high places were not removed; nevertheless, Asa’s heart..." | Asa, similar failure to remove high places |
| 1 Kgs 22:43 | "However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed..." | Jehoshaphat, another king with this failure |
| 2 Kgs 12:3 | "Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people still..." | Joash, Amaziah's father, same failing |
| 2 Kgs 15:4 | "However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed..." | Azariah (Uzziah), continued pattern of failure |
| 2 Kgs 15:35 | "Nevertheless, the high places were not removed..." | Jotham, persistence of high places |
| 2 Kgs 18:4 | "He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars..." | Hezekiah, example of righteous reform |
| 2 Kgs 23:8 | "He broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance..." | Josiah, comprehensive removal and defilement |
| Deut 12:2-4 | "You shall utterly destroy all the places... you shall break down..." | Mosaic command to destroy illicit worship sites |
| Exo 34:13-14 | "but you shall tear down their altars... for you shall worship no other god" | Command against altars and idolatry |
| Lev 26:30 | "And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars..." | God's promise to judge persistent high places |
| Num 33:52 | "then you shall drive out all the inhabitants... and destroy all their..." | Command to utterly cleanse the land |
| Jer 3:6 | "and she has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree..." | Prophetic condemnation of high places idolatry |
| Jer 11:13 | "For according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah; and..." | Link high places to worshipping false gods |
| Ezek 6:3 | "And say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD!... | Prophecy against high places |
| Hos 10:8 | "Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed..." | High places equated with sin |
| Judg 2:2-3 | "And you yourselves shall make no covenant... but you have not obeyed..." | Consequences of incomplete obedience |
| 1 Sam 9:12 | "And they answered him and said, “Yes, there is; look, he is before you..." | Earlier legitimate use of high places for sacrifice |
| Psa 78:37 | "For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful..." | High places reflect an unsteadfast heart |
| Psa 78:58 | "For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him..." | High places cause divine wrath |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love..." | Principle of undivided devotion |
| Jas 1:8 | "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." | Caution against spiritual inconsistency |
| 1 John 2:15 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves..." | Worldly compromise versus divine love |
2 Kings 14 verses
2 Kings 14 4 Meaning
2 Kings 14:4 states that despite King Amaziah's generally righteous reign (as described in the preceding verse), a critical religious failure persisted: the illicit high places where people offered sacrifices and burned incense were not removed. This verse serves as a crucial caveat, indicating the partial and therefore incomplete nature of Judah's adherence to God's covenant commands during his time.
2 Kings 14 4 Context
The immediate context (2 Kgs 14:1-3) introduces Amaziah as a king who did "what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father," instead walking in the way of Joash his father. Verse 4 then immediately qualifies this positive assessment. This qualification of incomplete religious reform is a recurring theme in the book of Kings when describing "good" kings who preceded Hezekiah and Josiah. Historically, "high places" (bamot) were elevated sites for worship, originally tolerated or even used by Israel (e.g., Samuel). However, after the establishment of the central sanctuary in Jerusalem as mandated by Mosaic Law (Deut 12), all other worship sites became illegitimate. They often fostered syncretism, where Yahweh was worshipped alongside or indistinguishably from foreign deities like Baal, or simply offered improper, unauthorized worship, becoming centers of idolatry and spiritual impurity in violation of God's covenant with Israel. The people's continued practice on these sites reflects deeply ingrained cultural and religious habits, demonstrating the challenging spiritual landscape faced by Judah's monarchs.
2 Kings 14 4 Word analysis
Nevertheless (אַךְ - ʾakh): This strong adversative particle signals a crucial counterpoint to the previous statement. It emphasizes that despite Amaziah's general righteousness, there was a significant and persisting religious failure. It introduces a vital theological limitation to the king's piety.
the high places (הַבָּמוֹת - ha-bamot): The Hebrew word bamah (singular) refers to an elevated cultic site. These could be natural hills or man-made mounds. Originally, some legitimate sacrifices occurred at such places (e.g., before the Temple). However, after the centralization of worship in Jerusalem as commanded by the Law (Deuteronomy 12), these sites became illegitimate. They frequently became hotbeds of idolatry (worshipping foreign gods) or syncretism (mixing Yahweh worship with pagan practices), representing a direct defiance of the Mosaic covenant and Yahweh's exclusivity. Their continued existence indicates a deep-seated spiritual problem.
were not removed (לֹא סָרוּ - lo saru): This passive construction highlights the inaction or failure of the king to eliminate these illicit sites. It signifies an incomplete or compromised spiritual reform. Even when a king was generally good, this pervasive problem remained, demonstrating the widespread and entrenched nature of spiritual compromise among the people and the monarchy's limited power or willingness to enforce comprehensive purity.
the people (הָעָם - ha-ʿam): Refers to the common populace. Their continued practice at the high places demonstrates that this was a widespread issue not confined to just a few individuals. It suggests popular piety was deeply entwined with these forbidden practices, making their eradication politically challenging for the king.
still sacrificed (מְזַבְּחִים - mezabbeḥim): A participle form, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the practice. Sacrificing was the core act of worship, but when done at the illegitimate high places, it constituted a grave sin against God's commanded form of worship. It could mean either worship of false gods or improper worship of Yahweh.
and burned incense (וּמְקַטְּרִים - u-meqaṭṭerîm): Also a participle, denoting continuous action. Burning incense was a common act in ancient worship, frequently associated with pagan rituals and explicitly linked to idolatry in the Old Testament (e.g., Jer 11:13). Its presence underscores the severity and persistence of the illicit religious practices.
on them (בָּהֶם - ba-hem): Refers directly to "the high places," clearly indicating the forbidden locations of these religious activities.
Words-group analysis:
- "Nevertheless the high places were not removed": This phrase delivers the primary negative judgment on Amaziah's otherwise positive description. It implies a significant spiritual defect in his reign, signaling that the nation’s worship was not fully consecrated to Yahweh as required by the covenant. This partial obedience demonstrates a failure of comprehensive spiritual leadership.
- "the people still sacrificed and burned incense on them": This phrase identifies the specific illicit activities occurring at the high places and reveals the extent of popular engagement in these practices. It highlights a widespread religious rebellion or spiritual ignorance that the king either could not or would not rectify, pointing to a persistent, generational issue within Judah's spiritual life.
2 Kings 14 4 Bonus section
- The recurring "nevertheless the high places were not removed" clause for several Judean kings in 1 & 2 Kings functions as a common literary motif, consistently highlighting a systemic flaw in Judah's spiritual leadership prior to the great reforms.
- This verse subtly differentiates Amaziah from King David (whom he does not entirely emulate) and foreshadows his later downfall and rejection by God's providence, showing that partial obedience carries significant long-term consequences.
- The persistence of high places highlights the challenge of true, internal heart purity over mere external religious practices. Kings could achieve political successes, but if they did not zealously purge the spiritual evils from the land, their reigns remained deficient in God's eyes.
- From a theological perspective, the failure to remove the high places underscores the severe consequences of syncretism and disobedience, reminding believers that compromise with worldliness and unbiblical practices can hinder genuine spiritual progress and lead to God's disfavor.
2 Kings 14 4 Commentary
2 Kings 14:4 delivers a standard but profound indictment against King Amaziah, qualifying the positive assessment of his reign given in the previous verse. While Amaziah's heart was initially presented as "right in the eyes of the LORD," his failure to remove the high places reveals a crucial spiritual compromise. These "high places" were not merely physical locations but served as entrenched symbols of syncretistic worship—a blend of Yahwism with pagan practices, or improper worship of Yahweh outside the central Temple in Jerusalem, directly contravening the clear mandates of the Deuteronomic law.
This persistent failure, a characteristic shared by several "good" kings before the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah, indicates a deep-seated spiritual malaise within Judah. It points to either a lack of genuine commitment on the king's part, an unwillingness to risk popular discontent by dismantling cherished local shrines, or simply an inability to fully purge the pervasive idolatry from the land. The phrase "the people still sacrificed and burned incense on them" emphasizes the widespread and deeply ingrained nature of this disobedience. The monarchy’s inability or unwillingness to eradicate this foundational breach of the covenant allowed a consistent erosion of true Yahwism, paving the way for more profound spiritual decline and eventual judgment.