And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.

2 CHRONICLES 28:25KJV
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2 Chronicles 28:25 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 28:25 mean?

2 Chronicles 28:25 describes how King Ahaz of Judah set up altars and places of worship for other gods in every city of Judah, burning incense to these gods and making the LORD, the God of his ancestors, angry. The verse highlights the widespread nature of Ahaz’s idolatry and how it directly provoked God’s anger.

The setting is the reign of King Ahaz, who ruled Judah and is remembered for turning away from the worship of the LORD. The Chronicler is writing about Ahaz’s actions to show how far the king and the nation had strayed from their traditional faith. This verse points out that Ahaz’s idolatry was not limited to one place but spread throughout all the cities, making it a national problem.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 28:25

  • "places" (בָּמָה, bamah): This word refers to "high places," which were elevated sites often used for worship. In this context, it means unauthorized worship sites set up for other gods, not for the LORD.
  • "incense" (קָטַר, qatar): This verb means "to burn incense," a ritual act in ancient worship. Here, it shows that Ahaz was actively participating in religious practices meant for other gods.
  • "anger" (כָּעַס, ka'as): This word means "to provoke to anger." The verse uses it to stress that Ahaz’s actions were not just wrong but deeply offensive to the LORD.
  • "other" (אַחֵר, acher): This term means "other" or "different," making clear that the gods being worshiped were not the LORD, but foreign deities.

Why 2 Chronicles 28:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Ahaz’s idolatry was not a private or isolated act but a deliberate, widespread campaign that affected every city in Judah.
  • The verse emphasizes that the LORD’s anger was not random but a direct response to the betrayal of worshiping "other gods" instead of the God of their ancestors.
  • By connecting Ahaz’s actions to the anger of the LORD, the Chronicler sets up the explanation for the troubles that came upon Judah during and after Ahaz’s reign, showing the link between leadership, national faithfulness, and consequences.