II Chronicles 15:17 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 15:17 Commentary: Perfect Heart, Imperfect Reform
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Asa's 'perfect' heart despite high places remaining explores the tension between wholehearted devotion and incomplete obedience.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Asa's heart was whole in its devotion to Yahweh, even though the removal of high places was incomplete.
- Key words: shalem (complete, whole) and bamot (high places, local cultic platforms).
- Main debate: Why did Asa leave the high places? Options: failure, lack of authority, or they were not idolatrous.
- Theological theme: Wholehearted devotion versus external reform; God's assessment of the heart.
- Best use: Teaching the complexity of faithfulness and God's grace in evaluating imperfect people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
KJV King James Version 1769
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
yet the high places have not turned aside from Israel; only, the heart of Asa hath been perfect all his days.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But the high places were not removed from Israel; only, Asa's heart was perfect all his days.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But high places were left in Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas con todo eso los altos no eran quitados de Israel, aunque el corazón de Asa fué perfecto mientras vivió.
Mas com tudo isso os altos não foram tirados de Israel, ainda que o coração de Asa tenha sido íntegro enquanto viveu.
Mais les hauts lieux ne disparurent point d’ Israël, quoique le cœur d’Asa fût en entier à l’Éternel pendant toute sa vie.
Aber die Höhen in Israel wurden nicht abgetan; doch war das Herz Asas rechtschaffen sein Leben lang.
De hoogten werden wel niet weggenomen uit Israel, het hart van Asa nochtans was volkomen al zijn dagen.
Nondimeno, gli alti luoghi non furono eliminati da Israele; quantunque il cuore d’Asa fosse integro, durante l’intera sua vita.
A choć wyżyny nie były zniesione z Izraela, przecież serce Azy było doskonałe po wszystkie dni jego.
Хотя высоты не были отменены у Израиля, но сердце Асы было вполне предано Господу во все дни его.
只是邱壇 還沒有 從以色列 中廢去，然而 亞撒 的心 一 生 誠實。
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; but still the heart of Asa was true to the Lord all his life.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 15:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators from multiple traditions agree on the meaning of this verse. Barnes notes a distinction between the king's intention and the actual practice of the people: Asa earnestly sought to remove idolatry, yet the high places persisted. The Cambridge Bible observes that high places were not necessarily places of idolatry, they were unauthorized sanctuaries. Keil and Delitzsch point out that Asa simply did not succeed in removing them all. Matthew Henry highlights that Asa's heart was 'perfect,' meaning whole and undivided in its allegiance to Yahweh, not sinless. The consensus is clear: wholehearted devotion does not require flawless execution. Scripture evaluates the direction of the heart, not the completeness of the reform. This brings comfort to anyone who has tried to follow God faithfully but has seen gaps remain in their obedience.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Incomplete obedience view: Asa failed to fully obey God's command to centralize worship; the high places were a sin of omission (Deuteronomy 12).
- Cultural persistence view: High places had deep popular roots and could not be eliminated by royal decree alone; Asa did what he could (1 Kings 22:43 shows similar pattern).
- Non-idolatrous view: High places were used for Yahweh worship, not idolatry; Asa removed only the idolatrous ones, leaving those that were merely unauthorized (Cambridge Bible).
What is clear: Asa's heart was fully devoted to Yahweh all his days, even though his reform of the high places was incomplete.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'perfect heart' | Asa's heart was whole and undivided in its allegiance to Yahweh. | Some traditions emphasize that 'perfect' does not mean sinless; others highlight the covenantal faithfulness shown in his actions. |
| Why high places remained | Asa did not fully succeed in removing high places from the land. | Protestant commentators often see it as a failure of obedience; others suggest the high places were not necessarily idolatrous but simply unauthorized, meaning Asa targeted only actual idolatry. |
| Relation to earlier reforms (2 Chronicles 14:3,5) | There is a discrepancy between the earlier 'removed' and the later 'were not taken away.' | Barnes explains that earlier passages describe the king's intention and efforts, while verse 17 describes the practical result. Others see a chronological sequence or a distinction between types of high places. |
| Evaluation of Asa's reign | Asa is generally considered a good king who followed Yahweh. | Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions all affirm his faithfulness, but they differ on whether his failure to remove high places was a grave sin or a minor weakness. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The 'high places' (Hebrew bamot) were local cultic platforms scattered throughout Israel and Judah. Before the temple was built, even faithful kings like Solomon sacrificed at Gibeon, the great high place (1 Kings 3:4). Deuteronomy 12 commanded that worship be centralized only in the place God chose once Israel was settled. After the temple was built, any worship outside Jerusalem was technically unauthorized, though not always idolatrous. Many high places originally used for Yahweh worship later became shrines for foreign gods.
Asa's reign marked a turning point. He removed idols, deposed his own mother Maacah for making an Asherah image, and led the nation in a covenant renewal (2 Chronicles 15:8, 15). Yet the Chronicler honestly records that the high places were not taken away. This is consistent with the pattern of other reforming kings. The cross-references in 1 Kings 22:43 and 2 Kings 12:3 show that later kings also struggled to remove them. The persistence of high places reflects both the deep roots of local worship and the limits of royal authority. Asa's reforms were genuine, but they were not utopian. He targeted the most blatant idolatry but left standing what may have been traditional, but forbidden, Yahweh shrines.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Chronicles 15:17. The verse is consistent across the major manuscript traditions.
Reception History
Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible focused on Asa's sincerity, his heart was 'perfect' in covenant loyalty. Matthew Henry wrote that Asa's failings did not disqualify him from being praised, because his general course was upright. The Geneva notes highlight the tension: the high places remained, yet Asa's heart was perfect. Later evangelical interpretation used this verse to teach that God's approval is based on the direction of the heart, not perfect performance. In liturgical traditions, the verse has been read as a reminder that even the best reformers leave work undone, and that God accepts those who sincerely seek Him.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Incomplete reform does not mean an insincere heart. Asa's effort was real even though not total. God sees the direction of our lives.
- God evaluates by the heart, not just the checklist. The word shalem (complete) describes Asa's devotion, not his record. Faithfulness is about wholehearted trust.
- Even the most faithful have blind spots. Asa had flaws, later shown in his reliance on Syria (2 Chronicles 16). Our obedience is always mixed with weakness, but God welcomes sincerity.
Five-point outline
- Asa's reforms were sweeping: idols removed, queen mother deposed, covenant renewed.
- Yet the high places remained, an honest admission of the Chronicler.
- The heart of Asa was 'perfect' (shalem): whole, undivided, fully devoted to Yahweh.
- This tension shows that spiritual growth is often partial. We can be sincere without being perfect.
- The verse invites us to examine our own hearts: is our allegiance whole, even where our actions fall short?
Illustration hooks
- A homeowner who clears the yard of major debris but leaves a small patch of weeds. The neighbor sees the weeds; the homeowner knows the intention was to clean it all.
- A child who obeys most instructions but leaves one undone because it was unclear. The parent sees the overall heart of obedience.
- A church that stops obvious sin but struggles with ingrained habits like gossip. The congregation is sincere, but growth takes time.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Asa didn't fully obey, why does God call his heart perfect?
- Does this verse mean I can be lazy about obedience as long as my heart is right?
- How do I know if my heart is truly whole toward God when I still struggle with sin?
Leading a Discussion
This verse challenges us to hold two things together: incomplete action and wholehearted devotion. Asa's example shows that sincerity and imperfection can coexist in a life that pleases God. Use these questions to explore the tension as a group.
Discussion questions
- What does the word 'perfect' (Hebrew shalem) mean in this context? How is it different from sinless?
- Read 2 Chronicles 15:8, 16. What did Asa actually accomplish? What remained undone?
- Compare this verse with 1 Kings 22:43 and 2 Kings 12:3. How did other faithful kings face the same issue?
- Why do you think the Chronicler included this honest note about the high places? What does it say about the Bible's view of its heroes?
- How can we encourage each other to pursue wholehearted devotion without becoming discouraged by our own unfinished reforms?
- Asa's later life took a troubling turn (2 Chronicles 16). Does that change how you read this verse? Why or why not?
- What 'high places' might still exist in your life, areas where you trust God but have not fully aligned with His commands? How can you move forward without losing heart?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 12:13 | Be careful that you don’t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; |
| Deuteronomy 12:14 | but in the place which Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. |
| I Kings 3:2 | However, the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for Yahweh’s name. |
| I Kings 3:4 | The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. |
| I Kings 11:4 | When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was. |
| I Kings 22:43 | He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. |
| II Kings 12:3 | However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. |
| II Kings 14:4 | However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Adam Clarke draws a careful distinction here: the king completely suppressed the idolatrous worship, but he allowed the physical high places, the buildings and altars themselves, to stay standing. The destruction of the practice was total, yet the structures remained.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the earlier accounts describe King Asa's own efforts to remove high places, but this verse describes the people's ongoing practice. Even the most faithful kings could not fully eliminate such worship. He also clarifies that Asa's heart being perfect means he remained loyal to God and free from idolatry, not that he was sinless.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the "high places" in this verse were not necessarily idolatrous sites but were unauthorized sanctuaries not permitted by the Law. The word "perfect" describes Israel as whole and undivided in its allegiance to God.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators note that Asa's failure to remove the high places did not disqualify him from being called a king with a perfect heart. They draw a clear distinction between incomplete outward reform and genuine inward devotion to God.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that the people sought the Lord "with all their will" — perfect willingness and alacrity, not mere outward compliance. This wholehearted devotion is why God let them find Him and gave them rest on every side. They also note textual differences between Chronicles and Kings regarding Asa's reforms.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the three speeches unique to Chronicles—Abijah's address, Azariah's warning, and Hanani's rebuke—are not literary inventions but genuine records drawn from prophetic sources. He sees them as powerfully original, breathing the stern prophetic spirit of Samuel and Nathan, and indispensable for understanding the theocratic convictions of the era.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes that the prophecy stirred Asa to action, turning his hearing into bold, wholehearted reform. The king did not merely approve the message but acted on it, removing idols and renewing worship, and the people joined him with genuine devotion.