Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
- KJV Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.
- NKJV Nevertheless the people still sacrificed on the high places, but only to the Lord their God.
- NASB However, the people still sacrificed on the high places, although only to the Lord their God.
- NLT However, the people still sacrificed at the pagan shrines, though only to the Lord their God.
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
The people still sacrifice at the high places, though now only to the Lord their God. Reform was real but incomplete, leaving an irregular worship that later kings would have to address.
Overview
Despite Manasseh's reforms, the entrenched practice of worshiping at high places persisted, even if now directed to Yahweh. Such worship outside the appointed temple was still a deviation from God's command (cf. Deuteronomy 12). The verse honestly notes the limits of the reform and the deep-rootedness of religious habits, anticipating Josiah's more thorough purge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 2 Chr 32:12Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?
- 2 Kgs 15:4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
- 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.
- 2 Chr 15:17The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 33:17 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.