2 Chronicles 17:6

2 Chronicles 17:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
• New International Version (NIV)His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.

Context of 2 Chronicles 17:6

4He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. 5So the Lord established Jehoshaphat’s control over the kingdom of Judah. All the people of Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so he became very wealthy and highly esteemed. He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. 7In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. 8He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

2 Chronicles 17:6 word by word

וַיִּגְבַּ֥הּ לִבּ֖וֹ בְּדַרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְע֗וֹד הֵסִ֛יר אֶת־הַבָּמ֥וֹת וְאֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִ֖ים מִיהוּדָֽה׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And his heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• was lifted upגָּבַהּgâbahh · be highH1361
• in the waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• moreover he took awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• the high placesבָּמָהbâmâh · high placeH1116
• and grovesאֲשֵׁרָה'ăshêrâh 'ăshêyrâh · AsherahH842
• out of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 17:6

• Deuteronomy 28:47If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received,
• Job 22:26“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God.
• Psalms 18:21For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
• Psalms 119:1Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
• Psalms 138:5Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great.
• Hosea 14:9Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.
• Acts 13:10Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?
• 2 Chronicles 14:3He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.
• 2 Chronicles 15:17Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa’s heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.
• 2 Chronicles 19:3Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”
• 2 Chronicles 20:33During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.
• 2 Chronicles 31:1When the festival ended, the Israelites who attended went to all the towns of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, and they smashed all the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and removed the pagan shrines and altars. After this, the Israelites returned to their own towns and homes.
• 2 Chronicles 34:3During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images.
• 1 Kings 22:43Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 17:6

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6His heart was lifted up - This expression generally occurs in a bad sense Deuteronomy 8:14; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalm 131:1; Proverbs 18:12; but here it must be taken differently. The margin “was encouraged” expresses fairly the true meaning. He first began by setting an example of faithfulness to Yahweh. He then proceeded to use his best endeavors to extirpate idolatry. He took away the high places - Compare 2 Chronicles 20:33, and see the 2 Chronicles…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6The word translated as "gifts" is often translated as "tribute," like what conquering kings demanded from their subjects (for example, Judges 3:15–18). However, forced tribute is not the intended meaning here. The people of Judah willingly made Jehoshaphat very wealthy. Like Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:16) and Hezekiah (32:25), wealth often leads to pride. However, Jehoshaphat was deeply committed to following the Lord's ways. He did not take pride in his own…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord--Full of faith and piety, he possessed zeal and courage to undertake the reformation of manners, to suppress all the works and objects of idolatry (see on 2Ch 20:33), and he held out public encouragement to the pure worship of God. 2Ch 17:7-11. He Sends Levites to Teach in Judah.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 17:6

• Groves
• High Places
• Iconoclasm
• Jehoshaphat
• Obedience
• Religion
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Judah
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Criticism
• High Place
• Jehoshaphat (2)
• Priests and Levites

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings