But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

2 KINGS 12:3KJV
Know the Bible

2 Kings 12:3 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 12:3 mean?

2 Kings 12:3 means that even though some religious reforms had taken place, the people of Israel continued to use the "high places"—local outdoor sites—for offering sacrifices and burning incense, instead of worshiping only at the temple in Jerusalem. The verse points out that these practices were not stopped during this time.

This verse is part of a summary about King Jehoash (Joash) of Judah. The writer is explaining that, although Jehoash did what was right in many ways, he did not remove these traditional worship sites. The people continued their old ways of worship, which was a concern because it went against the instructions to centralize worship in Jerusalem.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 12:3

  • "high places" (בָּמָה, bamah): This word refers to elevated outdoor locations used for worship. These were common in ancient Israel and often associated with older, local religious customs.
  • "sacrificed" (זָבַח, zavach): This verb means to offer animal sacrifices. The verse highlights that the people continued to bring offerings at these local sites.
  • "incense" (קָטַר, qatar): This verb means to burn incense as part of worship. Burning incense was a key part of ritual worship, and its mention here shows that full religious ceremonies were happening outside the temple.

Why 2 Kings 12:3 matters

  • 2 Kings 12:3 clarifies that religious reforms under Jehoash were incomplete, as traditional worship practices persisted among the people.
  • The verse highlights the tension between official temple worship and local customs, showing that old habits were hard to break even with a reform-minded king.
  • This detail connects to a recurring theme in Kings: the struggle to fully centralize worship in Jerusalem and the ongoing influence of older religious traditions.

Where else these words appear

“places” Hebrew H1116 · used in 92 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Kings 16:4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

“incense” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

“sacrificed” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.