But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
- BSB The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
- NKJV But the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days.
- NASB But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.
- NLT Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful 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
Though the high places remained in Israel, Asa's heart was wholly devoted to God all his days. God commends a sincere heart even amid incomplete reform.
Overview
The Chronicler honestly notes that some high places persisted, yet affirms Asa's lifelong wholehearted devotion. (The tension with 14:3-5 is usually resolved by distinguishing high places in Judah from those in the wider land, or as incomplete reform.) The verdict shows God values genuine heart-loyalty, while pointing ahead to Christ, whose obedience was perfect and complete.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Kgs 22:43And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
- 2 Kgs 14:4Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
- 1 Kgs 11:4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
- 2 Chr 14:3–5For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
- 2 Kgs 12:3But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
- Deut 12:13–14Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
- 2 Chr 16:7–12And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
- 1 Kgs 3:2–4Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 15:17 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.