2 Kings 16:4

4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

2 Kings 16:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 He also participated in the activities of the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines that flourished all over the place.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites, which were on hills and under every large tree.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places. He also did it on the tops of hills and under every green tree.

2 Kings 16:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 16:4

And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on
the hills
Which none of the kings of Judah before him ever did; for though they connived at this practice in the people, they never encouraged it by their own example; and very probably he offered sacrifices there to idols, see ( 2 Chronicles 28:25 ) whereas the people sacrificed to the true God, though at a wrong place:

and under every green tree;
and which is never said of the people, and seems to confirm it, that Ahaz sacrificed to other gods, since the Heathens used to place idols under green trees, and worship them, whom the Jews imitated, ( Jeremiah 2:2 ) ( 3:6 ) .

2 Kings 16:4 In-Context

2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him.
6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 2 Kings 22:17; 2 Kings 23:5
  • 2. Deuteronomy 12:2; Ezekiel 6:13
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