The Meaning of 2 Chronicles 20:33 Explained

2 Chronicles 20:33

KJV: Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

YLT: Only, the high places have not turned aside, and still the people have not prepared their heart for the God of their fathers.

Darby: Only, the high places were not removed; and as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

ASV: Howbeit the high places were not taken away; neither as yet had the people set their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Howbeit the high places  were not taken away:  for as yet the people  had not prepared  their hearts  unto the God  of their fathers. 

What does 2 Chronicles 20:33 Mean?

Study Notes

high places
.
Cf. Leviticus 26:30 ; Deuteronomy 12:11-14 . The use of commanding elevations for altars seems to have been immemorial and universal. In itself the practice was not evil; Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 12:8 ; Genesis 22:2-4 ; Genesis 31:54 ; Judges 6:25 ; Judges 6:26 ; Judges 13:16-23 . After the establishment of Mount Moriah and the temple as the centre of divine worship; Deuteronomy 12:5 ; 2 Chronicles 7:12 the pentateuchal prohibition of the use of high places Deuteronomy 12:11-14 which had looked forward to the setting up of such a centre, came into effect, and high places became identified with idolatrous practices. The constant recurrence to the use of high places, even for Jehovistic worship (See Scofield " 1 Kings 15:14 ") and after the building of the temple, proves how deeply rooted the custom was.
See 2 Kings 18:4-22 ; 2 Kings 23:1-37 ; 2 Chronicles 33:3 ; 2 Chronicles 33:17 ; 2 Chronicles 33:19 Note below refers to "Groves." (See Scofield " Judges 3:7 ") .

Chapter Summary: 2 Chronicles 20

1  Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast
5  His prayer
14  The prophecy of Jahaziel
20  Jehoshaphat exhorts the people, and sets singers to praise the Lord
22  The great overthrow of his enemies
26  The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph
31  Jehoshaphat's reign
35  His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perishes

What do the individual words in 2 Chronicles 20:33 mean?

Nevertheless the high places not were taken away for as yet the people had directed their hearts to the God of their fathers
אַ֥ךְ הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־ סָ֑רוּ וְע֤וֹד הָעָם֙ הֵכִ֣ינוּ לְבָבָ֔ם לֵאלֹהֵ֖י אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם

אַ֥ךְ  Nevertheless 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
הַבָּמ֖וֹת  the  high  places 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
סָ֑רוּ  were  taken  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
וְע֤וֹד  for  as  yet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הֵכִ֣ינוּ  had  directed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
לְבָבָ֔ם  their  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
לֵאלֹהֵ֖י  to  the  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם  of  their  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.