2 Chronicles 33:17

KJV

Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, [yet] unto the LORD their God only.

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless {H61} the people {H5971} did sacrifice {H2076} still in the high places {H1116}, yet unto the LORD {H3068} their God {H430} only.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, the people continued sacrificing on the high places, although only to ADONAI their God.

Berean Standard Bible

Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

American Standard Version

Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only unto Jehovah their God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following King Manasseh's profound repentance and initial reforms, 2 Chronicles 33:17 presents a complex spiritual reality within Judah: while the people had ceased overt idolatry and now directed their sacrifices solely to the LORD, they stubbornly persisted in offering these sacrifices at the "high places." This verse highlights the enduring challenge of fully eradicating ingrained, unauthorized religious practices, even when the object of worship has been rightly re-centered on the one true God. It reveals a form of partial obedience, where the intention was good, but the method and location of worship remained contrary to divine command, underscoring the difficulty of achieving comprehensive spiritual purity after generations of compromise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the dramatic account of King Manasseh's transformation. Chapters 33:1-9 detail his unprecedented wickedness, including rebuilding pagan high places, practicing child sacrifice, and leading Judah into deeper apostasy than the nations God had dispossessed. After his capture by the Assyrians and subsequent humiliation, verses 33:12-13 describe his profound repentance and God's gracious restoration. Upon his return to Jerusalem, Manasseh actively sought to undo his past evils, removing foreign gods and altars, and repairing the altar of the LORD (2 Chronicles 33:15-16). Verse 17 then provides a crucial, somewhat sobering, addendum to these reforms, indicating that while the king had made significant strides, the popular religious practice still retained a problematic element, setting the stage for the more thorough and sweeping reforms initiated by his grandson, King Josiah, as detailed in [2 Chronicles 34](/2-chronicles/34 "2 Chronicles 34 - Josiah's Reforms").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were elevated sites, often hilltops, where altars were erected for worship. Historically, some of these sites might have been used for legitimate worship of Yahweh in earlier periods, but many had become deeply associated with Canaanite fertility cults and idolatrous practices. God's law, particularly in [Deuteronomy 12](/deuteronomy/12 "Deuteronomy 12 - Centralization of Worship"), explicitly commanded the centralization of worship at a single, divinely chosen location (Jerusalem and its Temple) and the destruction of all high places, regardless of who was worshipped there. This command aimed to prevent syncretism, protect the purity of Israel's worship, and distinguish them from the surrounding pagan nations. Manasseh's reign had seen a resurgence of these forbidden practices, and despite his personal repentance and efforts to cleanse the Temple, the deep-seated cultural and religious habits of the populace proved resistant to full eradication, illustrating the pervasive influence of paganism on Israelite society.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates the theme of **partial obedience**, where devotion is directed to the right God, but through unapproved means or locations. It highlights the persistent challenge of **syncretism**, the blending of true worship with forbidden practices, even if the intent is to worship Yahweh. The continued use of high places, despite Manasseh's reforms, underscores the **difficulty of genuine, widespread spiritual reform** and the inertia of popular religious custom. This serves as a stark reminder that true covenant faithfulness requires not only the right object of worship but also adherence to God's prescribed methods and locations, emphasizing the importance of [holiness and separation](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy") in the life of God's people. It also foreshadows the ongoing struggle for spiritual purity that would plague Judah until its eventual exile.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **High Places (Hebrew, _bamot'_):** These were elevated sites, often natural hilltops or artificial mounds, which served as cultic centers for religious worship. While some may have been used for legitimate Yahwistic worship in early Israelite history, they became increasingly associated with Canaanite idolatry and were explicitly forbidden by God's law, which commanded a centralized worship at the Jerusalem Temple (cf. [Deuteronomy 12:2-7](/deuteronomy/12-2 "Deuteronomy 12:2-7 - Centralized Worship")). Their continued use, even for Yahweh worship, represented a persistent compromise with paganism and a failure to fully separate from the practices of the surrounding nations.
* **Unto the LORD their God only (Hebrew, _laYHWH Elohehem levaddam'_):** This crucial phrase indicates a significant shift from Manasseh's earlier reign, where sacrifices were offered to Baal and other gods. Now, the people were directing their worship exclusively to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This demonstrates that Manasseh's reforms had indeed had an impact on the *object* of worship. However, the preceding clause ("in the high places") creates a stark contrast, highlighting that while the "who" was right, the "where" remained problematic, revealing a form of incomplete or compromised obedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places,"**: This clause introduces a concession or a persistent issue despite the preceding positive reforms by King Manasseh. It reveals that the populace, despite the king's personal repentance and efforts to remove idolatry from Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 33:15-16), continued to engage in worship practices at the forbidden "high places." This indicates the deep-seated nature of these traditions and the difficulty of a top-down reform truly permeating all levels of society.
* **"[yet] unto the LORD their God only."**: This second clause clarifies the nature of the sacrifices. Crucially, the people were no longer sacrificing to foreign gods, as they had under Manasseh's earlier wicked reign. Their worship was now directed solely to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This highlights a partial success of Manasseh's reforms—the elimination of overt polytheism. However, the tension between this clause and the first creates a paradox: the *object* of worship was correct, but the *method* and *location* were still disobedient to God's explicit commands regarding centralized worship.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Chronicles 33:17 is **Paradox** or **Irony**. The verse presents a seemingly contradictory situation: the people are worshipping "the LORD their God only," which is commendable and indicative of a return to monotheism, yet they are doing so "in the high places," which were explicitly forbidden by God's law and associated with idolatry. This creates a tension that highlights the incomplete nature of Judah's spiritual reform. There is also a subtle **Contrast** between Manasseh's personal, radical repentance and comprehensive efforts to cleanse the Temple, and the lingering, less complete obedience of the general populace. This contrast underscores the challenge of societal transformation versus individual conversion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 33:17 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of true worship and obedience. It teaches that genuine faithfulness to God requires not only the right object of worship but also adherence to His revealed will regarding the *manner* and *place* of worship. The people's continued use of high places, even for Yahweh, demonstrates a form of partial obedience—a dangerous compromise that dilutes the purity of devotion and risks syncretism. God desires wholehearted, unreserved obedience, not merely a redirection of existing, unauthorized practices. This serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and the temptation to blend divine truth with human traditions or cultural norms that fall short of God's perfect standard.

* [Deuteronomy 12:4-5](/deuteronomy/12-4 "God's Chosen Place for Worship")
* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice")
* [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21 "Amos 5:21-24 - God Desires Justice, Not Empty Rituals")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a powerful mirror for believers today, challenging us to examine the depth and purity of our own worship and obedience. While we may sincerely direct our hearts to God, are there "high places" in our lives—ingrained habits, cultural compromises, or traditional practices—that, though perhaps well-intentioned, are not fully aligned with God's revealed will or the spirit of His commands? True worship is not merely about *who* we worship, but *how* we worship, and the complete consecration of our lives to Him. This passage calls us to a rigorous self-examination, urging us to dismantle any remaining "high places" of partial obedience or spiritual syncretism, ensuring that our devotion is wholehearted, pure, and fully submitted to the Lordship of Christ. It reminds us that God desires not just our devotion, but our complete transformation, impacting every area of our lives and practices.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "high places" might exist in my own life or in my community's spiritual practices that, while perhaps directed toward God, are not fully aligned with His Word?**
* **How can I move beyond partial obedience to a more complete and holistic surrender to God's will in all areas of my life?**
* **In what ways might cultural norms or personal traditions subtly compromise the purity of my worship or devotion to Christ?**

### FAQ

**Why were "high places" forbidden if the people were sacrificing to the LORD?**

Answer: The "high places" were forbidden primarily because God commanded a centralized place of worship in Jerusalem, the Temple. This command, found especially in [Deuteronomy 12](/deuteronomy/12 "Deuteronomy 12 - Centralization of Worship"), was designed to prevent syncretism and maintain the purity of Israel's worship. Prior to the Temple, some high places might have been legitimate, but over time, they became deeply associated with Canaanite idolatry, fertility cults, and pagan rituals. Even when used to worship Yahweh, they often incorporated elements of pagan practice, diluted the unique identity of Israel's faith, and fostered a decentralized, less accountable form of worship that was prone to corruption. God desired a singular, pure expression of worship that set His people apart.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Chronicles 33:17, with its depiction of partial obedience and lingering "high places," finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's emphasis on a specific place of worship, whether the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem, foreshadowed the coming of one who would embody God's presence and become the true locus of worship. Jesus declared in [John 4:21-24](/john/4-21 "John 4:21-24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth") that the time was coming, and indeed had come, when true worshippers would worship the Father "in spirit and truth," rather than on a specific mountain or in Jerusalem. He himself is the ultimate "high place," the perfect sacrifice, and the true Temple (cf. [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the Temple")). Through His atoning work, the need for physical altars and specific locations for sacrifice was abolished, as He offered the one perfect sacrifice for all time (cf. [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Thus, the struggle of Judah to fully abandon the high places is resolved in Christ, who invites all believers, regardless of their physical location, to draw near to God through Him, in true spiritual worship that is uncompromised and fully consecrated. He enables us to worship God not just "only" Him, but also "only" through the means He has provided, which is Himself.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 32:12

Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

2 Kings 15:4

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

2 Chronicles 15:17

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

1 Kings 22:43

And 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.