However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
Parallel translations
- KJV Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
- BSB The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
- NKJV Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
- NASB The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
- NLT During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.
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
Despite Jehoshaphat's goodness, the high places remained and the people's hearts were still not fully devoted to God. Reform was real but incomplete.
Overview
Even under a good king, the people had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers, and the high places were left standing. This honest assessment shows that outward reform cannot guarantee inward devotion, a recurring tension in Judah's history. It exposes the deeper need for a renewed heart, which God promises through the new covenant in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Chr 17:6His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.
- 2 Chr 19:3Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
- 2 Chr 12:14He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
- 2 Chr 14:3for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
- 2 Chr 30:19who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, even if they aren’t clean according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
- 1 Sam 7:3Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
- Deut 29:4But Yahweh has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear, to this day.
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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 20:33 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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