2 Kings 12:3

3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

2 Kings 12:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Yet even so, he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 (Even so, he didn't get rid of the sacred fertility shrines - people still frequented them, sacrificing and burning incense.)
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 But the illegal places of worship weren't torn down. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at these worship sites.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 But the high places weren't removed. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

2 Kings 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 12:3

But the high places were not taken away
Used before the temple was built, or set up in Rehoboam's time, ( 1 Kings 14:23 ) contrary to the law of God, which required that sacrifices should only be offered in the place the Lord chose to dwell in, ( Deuteronomy 12:4 Deuteronomy 12:6 ) the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places; as they had done in the times of Athaliah, and though the pure worship of God was restored at Jerusalem; and indeed this they did in all preceding reigns; nor was it in the power of the best of kings, at least they did not think it safe to attempt to remove them till Hezekiah's time; so fond were the people of them because of their antiquity and supposed sanctity, and for the sake of ease.

2 Kings 12:3 In-Context

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
4 Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the LORD—the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple.
5 Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. S 1 Kings 3:3; S 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:35; 2 Kings 18:4
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