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2 Chronicles 20:33

WEBKJVBSBESVNKJVNASBNLT
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
2 Chronicles 20:33 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB However the high places were not taken away, and the people had still not set their hearts on 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 17:6And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
  • 2 Chr 19:3Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
  • 2 Chr 12:14And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
  • 2 Chr 14:3For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
  • 2 Chr 30:19That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
  • 1 Sam 7:3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
  • Deut 29:4Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto 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

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.

Howbeit the high placesבָּמָהwere not taken awayסוּרfor as yet the peopleעַםhad not preparedכּוּןtheir heartsלֵבָבunto the Godאֱלֹהִיםof their fathersאָב
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