2 Chronicles 33:15
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
2 Chronicles 33:15 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from 2 Chronicles, King Hezekiah is depicted as cleansing the temple of all idolatrous practices. He removed the strange gods, idols, and altars that had been set up in the house of the LORD, on the mountain of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem. This act symbolizes the importance of turning away from false gods and worshiping the one true God. King Hezekiah's actions demonstrate his commitment to purifying the temple and restoring worship to its proper form. By casting out these foreign idols and altars, he is reclaiming the house of the LORD for the worship of God alone. This verse serves as a reminder to readers of the importance of staying true to their faith and avoiding the temptation of false idols.
Theological Overview
In this verse, we see the powerful impact of King Hezekiah's leadership in Judah. Hezekiah's actions demonstrate the importance of removing anything that hinders true worship of the Lord. The term "strange gods" refers to idols or false gods that were worshipped in place of the one true God. Hezekiah's decision to remove these idols from the house of the Lord and from Jerusalem reflects his desire to purify the worship of God in the land. The act of casting out the idols and altars signifies a rejection of anything that defiles the sacred space dedicated to the Lord. Through this theological interpretation, we can understand the significance of eliminating spiritual impurities from our lives in order to draw closer to God and honor Him with our worship. The word study of "strange gods" emphasizes the exclusivity of worship to the one true God and the importance of removing anything that competes with His rightful place in our lives.
2 Chronicles 33:15 in other translations
American Standard Version
And he took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Jehovah, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Jehovah, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
World English Bible
He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
Douay-Rheims
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord: the altars also which he had made in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and he cast them all out of the city.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And he tooke away the strange gods and the image out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Ierusalem, and cast them out of the citie.