1 Kings 15:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted with ADONAI throughout his life.

Berean Standard Bible:

The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.

American Standard Version:

But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the high places^{H1116} were not removed^{H5493}: nevertheless Asa's^{H609} heart^{H3824} was perfect^{H8003} with the LORD^{H3068} all his days^{H3117}.

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Commentary for 1 Kings 15:14

1 Kings 15:14 is a verse that encapsulates the reign of King Asa of Judah, highlighting both his faithfulness to God and the religious syncretism that persisted during his rule. The historical context of this verse is set within the divided monarchy period of Israel's history, after the reign of Solomon, when the kingdom split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.

The verse specifically addresses two aspects of Asa's reign. Firstly, it mentions the "high places," which were ancient Canaanite worship sites often located on elevated ground. Despite the Mosaic Law's command to destroy these pagan sanctuaries (Deuteronomy 12:2-3), they remained a feature of the Judean landscape, indicating that not all forms of idolatry had been eradicated from the land. The presence of these high places suggests a compromise with the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, which was a recurring issue for the Israelite kings.

Secondly, the verse commends Asa for having a heart that was "perfect with the LORD all his days." This indicates that despite the religious compromise reflected in the high places, Asa himself was wholeheartedly devoted to God. His loyalty and commitment to Yahweh are further detailed in 2 Chronicles 14-16, where his reforms and military victories are described, as well as his reliance on God during times of conflict.

In summary, 1 Kings 15:14 presents a mixed review of King Asa's reign. It acknowledges his personal piety and unwavering devotion to the Lord, while also noting the religious inconsistency in failing to abolish the high places. This verse reflects a common theme in the books of Kings, where the spiritual fidelity of a king is often at odds with the religious practices of the people. It underscores the complexity of religious and political leadership in ancient Israel and the ongoing tension between exclusive worship of Yahweh and the accommodation of other deities.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1116
   There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּמָה
   Transliteration: bâmâh
   Pronunciation: bam-maw'
   Description: from an unused root (meaning to be high); an elevation; height, high place, wave.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5493
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוּר
   Transliteration: çûwr
   Pronunciation: soor
   Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.
   
3. Strong's Number: H609
   There are 201 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָסָא
   Transliteration: ʼÂçâʼ
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Asa, the name of a king and of a Levite; Asa.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3824
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵבָב
   Transliteration: lêbâb
   Pronunciation: lay-bawb'
   Description: from לָבַב; used also like לֵב; the heart (as the most interior organ); [phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8003
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלֵם
   Transliteration: shâlêm
   Pronunciation: shaw-lame'
   Description: from שָׁלַם; complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect(-ed), quiet, Shalem (by mistake for a name), whole.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.