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2 Kings 15:4 — Word Study

Depth

WLCרַ֥ק הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־ סָ֑רוּ ע֥וֹד הָעָ֛ם מְזַבְּחִ֥ים וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃

BSANeverthelessraq [save that, except] the high placesbâmâh [cultic platforms, elevations] were notlôʼ taken awayçûwr [removed, destroyed] the peopleʻam [nation, Amaw] continuedʻôwd sacrificingzâbach [offering, slaughtering] and burning incenseqâṭar [making offerings, presenting burnt offerings] [there]bâmâh [in those high places, still]

Word
Listen & take away2 Kings 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ba.ba.Mot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Kings 15:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe high places remained, and the people continued their sacrifices and incense offerings.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes the actions of the people during the reign of King Azariah.
Where we areThe context is a description of the religious practices in Israel during Azariah's rule.
The hard wordע֥וֹד
Take awayDespite reforms, the high places were not removed.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbסוּר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Kings 15:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Reign of Azariahgenerated

3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

2 Kings 15:4 describes the religious state of Israel under King Azariah, noting that despite his righteous actions, the high places remained, and the people continued their sacrificial rituals. This reflects a persistent issue in Israel's history, where worship practices often conflicted with the commands of Yahweh, as seen in other passages like 1 Kings 15:14.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Kings 15:35Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.
22 Kings 14:4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
32 Kings 18:4He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.
41 Kings 15:14The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.
51 Kings 22:43And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word רַק, rakgenerated

The Hebrew word רַק (rak) is an adverb meaning 'only' or 'except.' It is used to limit or emphasize a statement, indicating that something is true with specific exceptions. In this verse, it highlights that despite the king's reforms, the high places were not removed.

This word appears frequently in the Old Testament, often in contexts where a contrast or limitation is being made. Its role here emphasizes the ongoing issue of idolatry in Israel, as the high places remained a significant part of the people's worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Nevertheless to convey the contrast introduced by רַק.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is סָ֑רוּ (they were removed), which governs the action regarding the high places. The structure shows that the high places were not removed, while the people continued their sacrificial practices.

The sentence structure highlights the contrast between the king's actions and the people's continued worship at the high places, indicating a significant tension in the narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates רַק as πλὴν (plēn), meaning 'but' or 'except.' This choice emphasizes the contrast between the king's reforms and the people's actions.

The Greek term for the high places is ὑψηλῶν (hypsēlōn), which carries a similar meaning to the Hebrew, indicating elevated sites associated with worship.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Kings 15:4 states that even though King Azariah did what was right, the high places were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. This shows that despite some reforms, the old practices persisted.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the high places were not taken away?

It indicates that despite the king's good actions, the people continued their idolatrous practices, which were against God's commands.

Why did the people continue to sacrifice at the high places?

The high places were traditional sites of worship, and the people may have felt a strong attachment to these practices despite the king's reforms.

What were the high places used for?

They were used for sacrifices and incense offerings, often associated with worship of other gods.

How does this verse reflect the spiritual state of Israel?

It shows a persistent struggle with idolatry and the challenge of fully following God's commands, even under a righteous king.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see similar patterns of compromise in my own life?
  2. How can I ensure that my worship aligns with God's commands rather than cultural practices?
  3. What steps can I take to address areas in my life where I may be holding onto old habits?
  4. How does understanding the context of this verse help me apply its lessons today?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 15:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Save that the high places were not removed,.... That is, he did right, excepting in that instance, and which was the case of his father and other kings before him, and others afterwards, till

Read John Gill on 2 Kings 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Kings 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Save that; understand this as howbeit, .

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Kings 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 15:4 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.Ver. 4. The high places were not removed.] No, not in his best times. This, if it did not loose, yet it lessened his crown of glory.

Read John Trapp on 2 Kings 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. save that [R.V. Howbeit] the high places] The rendering is thus made to agree with verse 25 of this chapter, where the Hebrew is the same. The Chronicler at this point supplies us with many particulars of Azariah’s history unnoticed in Kings. Azariah, he says, ‘sought God in the days of Zechariah’, a prophet, who appears to have been, the king’s counsellor. He made war with success upon the Philistines, the Arabians and the Mehunim. The Ammonites became tributary to him, and he fortified Jerusalem. He built many towers, and digged many wells, had much cattle and many labourers in husbandry, ‘for he loved husbandry’. He had also a large and well-ordered army of more than three hundred…

Read Cambridge on 2 Kings 15 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

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

RVARevised Version, American1894

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

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But the hie places were not put away: for the people yet offered, and burned incense in the hie places.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Only, the high places were not removed: the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

only, the high places have not turned aside — yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

only, the high places have not been removed—the people are still sacrificing and making incense in high places.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Nevertheless the high-places were not removed: as yet the people sacrificed and burnt incense on the high-places.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But the high places he did not destroy: for the people sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But the high places were not removed. The people still were sacrificing and presenting burnt offerings in those places.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But he did not take away the high places, and the people still went on making offerings and burning them in the high places.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · objectרַ֥קonlynoun phraseהַthe.highבָּמ֖וֹתplacesadverbialלֹאnotverbסָ֑רוּthey.were.removedclauseadverbialע֥וֹדstillnoun phrase · subjectהָtheעָ֛םpeopleverb phrase · verbמְזַבְּחִ֥ים[were].sacrificingוּֽand.[were]מְקַטְּרִ֖יםmaking.smokeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּatnoun phrasethe.highבָּמֽוֹתplaces

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in wording, with 9 of the 9 words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's content across these traditions.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

רַ֥ק הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־ סָ֑רוּ ע֥וֹד הָעָ֛ם מְזַבְּחִ֥ים וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רַ֥קπλὴνהַבָּמ֖וֹתὑψηλῶνלֹא־οὐκסָ֑רוּἐχῆρενע֥וֹדἔτιהָעָ֛םλαὸςמְזַבְּחִ֥יםἐθυσίαζενוּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖יםἐθυμίωνבַּבָּמֽוֹת׃ὑψηλοῖς

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Kings 15:4רַקonlyonlyרַקבָּמָהthe high plthe high placesבָּמָהלֹאnotnotלֹאסוּרthey were rthey were removסוּרעוֹדstillstillעוֹדעַםthe peoplethe peopleעַםזָבַח[were] sacr[were] sacrificזָבַחקָטַרand [were] and [were] makiקָטַרבָּמָהat the highat the high plaבָּמָהעוּדto upholdto upholdעוּדעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםרַקthinthinרַקקָטַרto encloseto encloseקָטַרבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהקָטַרto offer: to offer: burnקָטַרזָבַחto sacrifito sacrificeזָבַחמָלַטto escapeto escapeמָלַטיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאליָסַףto addto addיָסַףאֶ֫פֶסendendאֶ֫פֶסזֶ֫בַחsacrificesacrificeזֶ֫בַחשֶׁ֫לֶםpeace offepeace offeringשֶׁ֫לֶםחֵ֫לֶבfatfatחֵ֫לֶב
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Kings 15:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
רַ֥קrak only H7535 Adverb
109× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'except' or 'only', used to limit or emphasize something, like in Exodus 12:11 where it says to eat the Passover meal in haste, with nothing but your clothes on. It can also mean 'but' or 'nevertheless'.
Amplified meaning
save that, except
Tyndale gloss
except
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַק (raq) is an adjective meaning 'thin' and an adverb indicating limitation, such as 'only' or 'altogether.' It conveys a sense of restriction or exclusivity in various contexts, including affirmations and negations. The entries align on its meanings, with no significant disagreement noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַק

adj. thin

adv. with restrictive force, only, altogether, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7535 רַק . adj. thin

. adv. with restrictive force, only, altogether, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7535 raq rak

the same as 7534 as a noun; properly, leanness, i.e.

(figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or

conjunctional, although:--but, even, except, howbeit

howsoever, at the least, nevertheless, nothing but,

notwithstanding, only, save, so (that), surely, yet (so), in

any wise.

see HEBREW for 07534

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַק (raq) — except.

1) only, altogether, surely

1a) only

1b) only, nought but, altogether (in limitation)

1c) save, except (after a negative)

1d) only, altogether, surely (with an affirmative)

1e) if only, provided only (prefixed for emphasis)

1f) only, exclusively (for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Adverb
HD
only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
הַבָּמ֖וֹתha.ba.Mot the high places H1116 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Amplified meaning
cultic platforms, elevations
Tyndale gloss
high place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּמָה (bamah) refers to a 'high place' or elevation, often associated with cultic worship sites. It can denote various heights, including mountains and battlefields, and may also imply a funeral mound. The term is derived from an unused root meaning 'to be high,' indicating its connection to elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּמָה 104 n.f. high place

high place, mountain

high places, battle-fields

high places, as places of worship

funereal mound (?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1116 בָּמָה high place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1116 bamah bam-maw'

from an unused root (meaning to be high); an

elevation:--height, high place, wave.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּמָה (ba.mah) — high place.

1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform)

1a) high place, mountain

1b) high places, battlefields

1c) high places (as places of worship)

1d) funeral mound?

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The ancient Canaanites, and other nations, worshipped the heavenly bodies and their idols upon hills, mountains, and artificial elevations. The Israelites were commanded to destroy these places of idol worship, De 12:2, but instead of this, they imitated the heathen, and at first worshipped Jehovah in high places, 1Sa 9:12 1Ki 3:4, and afterwards idols, 1Ki 11:7 2Ki 17:10,11. Here also they built chapels or temples, "houses of the high places," 1Ki 13:32 2Ki 17:29, and had regular priests,

→ A term used to describe places of worship Ge 12:8; 22:2,14; 31:54; 1Sa 9:12; 2Sa 24:25; 1Ki 3:2,4; 18:30,38; 1Ch 16:39; 2Ch 1:3; 33:17

→ Signify a place of idolatrous worship Nu 22:41; 1Ki 11:7; 12:31; 14:23; 15:14; 22:43; 2Ki 17:9,29; Jer 7:31

→ Licentious practices at Eze 16:24-43

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Used for idolatrous worship

1Ki 11:7,8

- God sometimes worshipped on

1Sa 9:12; 1Ki 3:2,4; 2Ch 33:17

- MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Gibeon

1Ki 3:4

. Arnon

Nu 21:28

. Baal

Nu 22:41

. Tophet

Jer 7:31

. Bamah

Eze 20:29

. Aven

Ho 10:8

- Adorned with tapestry

Eze 16:16

- Surrounded with groves

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) General References to Idolatrous. See FALSE WORSHIP

(2) Condemned

Le 26:30; Nu 33:52; 1Ki 13:32; 2Ch 14:3; Jer 7:31

(3) Sometimes used for True Worship

Ge 22:2; 31:54; Jud 6:26; 1Sa 9:12; 10:5; 1Ki 3:4; 18:19

only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
סָ֑רוּSa.ru they were removed H5493 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
removed, destroyed
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
ע֥וֹדod still H5750 Adv
490× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The word 'still' means something continues or happens again, like in Genesis 29:26 and Isaiah 2:11. It can also mean 'more' or 'additionally'.
Tyndale gloss
still
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹד (owd) primarily denotes a sense of iteration or continuance, functioning mostly as an adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.' It can also imply addition or repetition, as in 'more' or 'besides.' The word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing persistence or continuation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5750 עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5750 `owd ode

or rod {ode}; from 5749; properly, iteration or continuance;

used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again,

repeatedly, still, more:--again, X all life long, at all,

besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer,

(any) more(-over), X once, since, (be) still, when, (good,

the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet

(within).

see HEBREW for 05749

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹד (od) — still.

subst

1) a going round, continuance

adv

2) still, yet, again, besides

2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence)

2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition)

2c) again

2d) still, moreover, besides

Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adv
HAcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

stil: "To be still" is "to keep silence" (Ps 4:4, etc.) and so "to be quiet" (Ps 107:29, etc.) or "inactive" in any way (Jud 18:9; 1Ki 22:3; Zec 1:11, etc.). So "be still" in Ps 46:10 means "desist from your war" (compare the Revised Version margin "let be"). The "still small voice" of 1Ki 19:12 (the Revised Version margin "sound of gentle stillness") is due to taking the Hebrew demamah in its literal force of "silent," but the word here means "whisper"--"a whispering, little voice." This familiar passage…

only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
הָעָ֛םha.'Am the people H5971 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
nation, Amaw
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
מְזַבְּחִ֥יםme.za.be.Chim [were] sacrificing H2076 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine plural
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sacrifice means to slaughter an animal, usually for a religious offering, as seen in the Bible's instructions for worship. This term is used in many contexts, including sacrifices for eating or in divine judgment. It's often translated as 'kill' or 'offer' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
offering, slaughtering
Tyndale gloss
to sacrifice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word זָבַח (zavach) is a primitive root meaning to slaughter, particularly in the context of sacrifice. It encompasses various forms of slaughter, including for eating and divine judgment, and is used in both the Qal and Piel stems. The entries highlight its significance in sacrificial practices, but do not present any notable disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָבַח 134 vb. slaughter for sacrifice

Qal 112

slaughter for sacrifice

slaughter for eating

slaughter for divine judgment

Pi. 22 sacrifice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2076 זָבַח slaughter for sacrifice .. slaughter for sacrifice

. slaughter for eating

. slaughter for divine judgment

. sacrifice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2076 zabach zaw-bakh'

a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in

sacrifice):--kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָבַח (za.vach) — to sacrifice.

1) to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to slaughter for sacrifice

1a2) to slaughter for eating

1a3) to slaughter in divine judgment

1b) (Piel) to sacrifice, offer sacrifice

Aramaic equivalent: de.vach (דְּבַח "to sacrifice" H1684)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine plural
HVprmpa
only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖יםu.me.ka.te.Rim and [were] making smoke H6999 Conjunction · verb piel participle (active) masculine plural
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the act of burning incense as an act of worship, often using a special altar. It involves turning something into a fragrant smoke, and is an important part of Old Testament rituals and sacrifices.
Amplified meaning
making offerings, presenting burnt offerings
Tyndale gloss
to offer: burn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָטַר (*qatar*) is a verb meaning to smoke or burn, particularly in the context of sacrifices and incense. It has various forms, including nouns for incense (מֻקְטָר, *muqtar*) and incense-altar (מְקַטֵרָה, *meqaterah*). The entries indicate its use in worship practices, with a focus on creating fragrance through fire.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָטַר] 116 vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke

Pi. make sacrifices smoke, offer them by burning

Pu. fumigated with myrrh

Hiph.

make sacrifices smoke

cause incense to smoke, offer incense

make smoke upon

Hoph. be made to smoke as a sacrifice

base

מֻקְטָר n.m. incense;—abs. Mal 1:11

ref

[מְקַטֵרָה] n.f. incense-altar;—pl. abs. 2 Ch 30:14.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6999a קָטַר vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke H6999b מֻקְטָר incense H6999c מְקַטֵרָה incense-altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6999 qatar kaw-tar'

a primitive root (identical with 7000 through the idea of

fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the

occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire

(especially as an act of worship):--burn (incense, sacrifice)

(upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a

sacrifice).

see HEBREW for 07000

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: burn.

: burn

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

מֻקְטָר (muq.tar) — incense.

v

incense

מְקַטֵרָה (me.qa.te.rah) — incense-altar.

incense-altar

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: offer.

: offer

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: to perfume.

: perfume

v

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel — Conjunction · verb piel participle (active) masculine plural
HC/Vprmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

smok: Used figuratively of the divine jealousy (De 29:20) and anger (Ps 74:1); symbolic of the glory of the divine holiness (Isa 4:5; 6:4; Re 15:8).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 6:4; Ho 13:3

only the high places not they were removed still the people [were] sacrificing and [were] making smoke at the high places
בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃ba.ba.Mot at the high places H1116 Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Amplified meaning
in those high places, still
Tyndale gloss
high place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּמָה (bamah) refers to a 'high place' or elevation, often associated with cultic worship sites. It can denote various heights, including mountains and battlefields, and may also imply a funeral mound. The term is derived from an unused root meaning 'to be high,' indicating its connection to elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּמָה 104 n.f. high place

high place, mountain

high places, battle-fields

high places, as places of worship

funereal mound (?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1116 בָּמָה high place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1116 bamah bam-maw'

from an unused root (meaning to be high); an

elevation:--height, high place, wave.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּמָה (ba.mah) — high place.

1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform)

1a) high place, mountain

1b) high places, battlefields

1c) high places (as places of worship)

1d) funeral mound?

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HRd/Ncfpa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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