2 Chronicles 28:4
New International Version
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

New Living Translation
He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.

English Standard Version
And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Berean Standard Bible
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

King James Bible
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

New King James Version
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

New American Standard Bible
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

NASB 1995
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

NASB 1977
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Legacy Standard Bible
He also sacrificed and offered offerings in smoke on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Amplified Bible
He also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [of pagan worship], on the hills and under every green tree.

Christian Standard Bible
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

American Standard Version
And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Contemporary English Version
Ahaz offered sacrifices at the local shrines, as well as on every hill and in the shade of large trees.

English Revised Version
And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He offered sacrifices and burned incense as an offering at the illegal worship sites, which were on hills and under every large tree.

Good News Translation
At the pagan places of worship, on the hills, and under every shady tree Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense.

International Standard Version
He sacrificed and burned incense on high places, on the top of hills, and under every green tree.

Majority Standard Bible
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

NET Bible
He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

New Heart English Bible
He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Webster's Bible Translation
He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

World English Bible
He sacrificed and burned incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and sacrifices and makes incense in high places, and on the heights, and under every green tree.

Young's Literal Translation
and sacrificeth and maketh perfume in high places, and on the heights, and under every green tree.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will sacrifice and burn incense in the heights, and upon the hills, and under every green tree.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He sacrificed also, and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Also, he was sacrificing and burning incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

New American Bible
He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on hills, and under every green tree.

New Revised Standard Version
He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he sacrificed also and burned incense upon the altars and on high places and under every beautiful tree.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he sacrificed and offered up censers of sweet spices on the altar and upon high places and under every beautiful tree.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he sacrificed and offered in the high places, and on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he burnt incense upon the high places, and upon the roofs, and under every shady tree.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ahaz Reigns in Judah
3Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 4And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Cross References
2 Kings 16:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Deuteronomy 12:2
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.

Jeremiah 2:20
“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

Ezekiel 6:13
Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.

Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

1 Kings 14:23
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

2 Kings 17:10
They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Jeremiah 3:6
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.

Isaiah 65:7
both for your iniquities and for those of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and scorned Me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their former deeds.”

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Acts 7:42-43
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? / You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

1 Corinthians 10:20
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


Treasury of Scripture

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

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.

Deuteronomy 12:2,3
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: …

2 Kings 16:4
And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Jump to Previous
Burned Burnt Green Heights High Hills Hilltops Incense Leafy Maketh Offered Offerings Perfume Perfumes Places Sacrificed Sacrifices Sacrificeth Spreading Tree
Jump to Next
Burned Burnt Green Heights High Hills Hilltops Incense Leafy Maketh Offered Offerings Perfume Perfumes Places Sacrificed Sacrifices Sacrificeth Spreading Tree
2 Chronicles 28
1. Ahaz, reigning wickedly, is greatly afflicted by the Syrians.
6. Judah, being captivated by the Israelites, is sent home by the counsel of Oded.
16. Ahaz sending for aid to Assyria, is not helped thereby,
22. In his distress he grows more idolatrous
26. He dying, Hezekiah succeeds him














And he sacrificed
The act of sacrificing in ancient Israel was a deeply significant religious practice, often involving the offering of animals or other goods to God. In the Hebrew context, the word for "sacrifice" is "זָבַח" (zabach), which implies a ritualistic slaughter. This verse highlights the deviation of King Ahaz from the prescribed worship of Yahweh, as he engaged in pagan practices. Sacrificing to other gods was a direct violation of the first commandment, which underscores the exclusivity of worship due to the Lord alone. This act of sacrifice to false gods represents a profound spiritual adultery and a turning away from the covenant relationship with God.

and burned incense
Burning incense was a common practice in ancient religious rituals, symbolizing prayers rising to the deity. The Hebrew word "קָטַר" (qatar) is used here, indicating the act of burning incense as an offering. In the context of Israelite worship, incense was to be burned in the temple as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Exodus 30:7-8). However, Ahaz's use of incense in unauthorized places reflects his syncretism and the adoption of pagan customs. This misuse of incense highlights the corruption of true worship and the blending of sacred practices with idolatrous ones, which was detestable to God.

on the high places
High places, or "בָּמוֹת" (bamot) in Hebrew, were elevated sites often used for worship in ancient Canaanite religion. These locations were typically chosen for their height, believed to be closer to the gods. Despite God's command to destroy such places (Deuteronomy 12:2-3), they persisted in Israel and Judah as centers of idolatrous worship. Ahaz's use of high places signifies his departure from centralized worship in Jerusalem and the temple, which was the designated place for sacrifices to Yahweh. This act of worship at high places represents a rejection of God's ordained order and a return to pagan practices.

on the hills
The mention of "hills" further emphasizes the widespread nature of Ahaz's idolatry. Hills, like high places, were often associated with pagan worship. The Hebrew word "גִּבְעוֹת" (gib'ot) suggests natural elevations used for religious rites. This practice was common among the surrounding nations, and Ahaz's participation indicates his assimilation into their religious customs. Worship on hills was a direct challenge to the centralization of worship in Jerusalem and a violation of the covenant, which called for exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

and under every green tree
The phrase "under every green tree" is a vivid depiction of the pervasive idolatry in Judah. The Hebrew "תַּחַת כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָן" (tachat kol-etz ra'anan) suggests a widespread and indiscriminate practice of idol worship. Green trees were often associated with fertility cults and the worship of nature deities. This imagery conveys the extent of Ahaz's apostasy, as he engaged in idolatrous practices in every conceivable location. The use of natural settings for worship highlights the allure of pagan religions, which often promised prosperity and fertility, contrasting with the true worship of Yahweh, which required faithfulness and obedience.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And he sacrificed
וַיְזַבֵּ֧חַ (way·zab·bê·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2076: To slaughter for sacrifice

and burned incense
וַיְקַטֵּ֛ר (way·qaṭ·ṭêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

on the high places,
בַּבָּמ֖וֹת (bab·bā·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1116: An elevation

on
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the hills,
הַגְּבָע֑וֹת (hag·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1389: A hillock

and under
וְתַ֖חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

green
רַעֲנָֽן׃ (ra·‘ă·nān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7488: Verdant, new, prosperous

tree.
עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed and burnt incense (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 28:3
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