2 Kings 14:4 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 14:4 mean?

2 Kings 14:4 says that although some reforms had taken place, the people of Judah still continued to use the high places for offering sacrifices and burning incense, instead of worshiping only at the Jerusalem temple as the law required. The verse points out that these local worship sites were not removed.

This verse is part of a summary about King Amaziah’s reign. The writer notes that, even though Amaziah did some things right, he did not fully stop the people from following older religious customs at the “high places.” These were local hills or platforms where people made offerings, a practice that had been common before the temple in Jerusalem was built but was supposed to end once the temple became the central place of worship.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 14:4

• בָּמוֹת (bamot, “places”): This word refers to the “high places,” which were elevated sites often used for worship. In the context of Israel’s history, these places could be used for worshiping God or other gods, but by this time, worship was supposed to be centralized in Jerusalem.
• סָר (sar, “taken away”): This word means “removed” or “taken away.” The verse uses it to say the high places were not eliminated, highlighting a failure to fully follow the religious reforms expected by the law.
• עוֹד (od, “yet”): This word means “still” or “yet,” emphasizing that the practice of sacrificing at these sites continued even after some reforms.

Why 2 Kings 14:4 matters

• This verse clarifies that even “good” kings in Judah often allowed popular religious practices to continue, showing that reforms were often incomplete.
• The mention of the high places connects to a recurring theme in Kings: the struggle to centralize worship in Jerusalem and the difficulty leaders had in changing long-standing traditions.
• Understanding this verse helps explain why later prophets and writers criticized the kings and people for not fully obeying God’s instructions about worship.