The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days.
- KJV But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
- NKJV But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days.
- NASB But the high places were not eliminated; nevertheless Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the Lord all his days.
- NLT Although the pagan shrines were not removed, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Although the high places remain, Asa's heart is wholly true to God all his days. His incomplete reform does not negate his genuine faithfulness.
Overview
The lingering high places show that even good kings left some reforms unfinished. Yet Scripture commends Asa's heart as perfect, that is, undivided toward the LORD. The verse teaches that true devotion is measured by the heart's loyalty, even when external reform remains imperfect.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Kgs 22:43And 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.
- 1 Kgs 15:3And Abijam walked in all the sins that his father before him had committed, and his heart was not as fully devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his forefather had been.
- 1 Kgs 8:61So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”
- 2 Kgs 12:3Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
- 2 Chr 14:5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.
- 2 Chr 15:17–18The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
- 2 Chr 14:3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.
- 2 Kgs 14:4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
- 2 Kgs 15:4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
- 1 Kgs 11:4For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.
- 2 Chr 25:2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.
- 2 Chr 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 15:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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