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Home › Berean Standard Bible  › 2 Chronicles 11  › 2 Chronicles 11:15

2 Chronicles 11:15

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2 Chronicles 11:15 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

King James Version KJV

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

American Standard Version ASV

and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And he himself made priests for the high places, and for the images of he-goats and oxen which he had made.

Free Bible Version FBV

Jeroboam chose his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

And he ordeyned him Priests for the hie places, and for the deuils and for the calues which he had made.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

and he establisheth to him priests for high places, and for goats, and for calves, that he made —

World English Bible WEB

He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Translation for Translators T4T

Instead, Jeroboam appointed the priests that he wanted to work at the altars he commanded to be built on the hilltops, to offer sacrifices to the idols that he commanded to be made that resembled goats and calves.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 11:15

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

2 Chronicles 11:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB וַ/יַּֽעֲמֶד ל/וֹ֙ כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים לַ/בָּמ֖וֹת וְ/לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ים וְ/לָ/עֲגָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה
וַ/יַּֽעֲמֶד ʻâmad H5975 to stand Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
ל/וֹ֙ Prep | Suff
כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים kôhên H3548 priest N-mp
לַ/בָּמ֖וֹת bâmâh H1116 high place Prep | N-fp
וְ/לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ים sâʻîyr H8163 hairy Conj | Prep | N-mp
וְ/לָ/עֲגָלִ֖ים ʻêgel H5695 calf Conj | Prep | N-mp
אֲשֶׁ֥ר ʼăsher H834 which Rel
עָשָֽׂה ʻâsâh H6213 to make V-Qal-Perf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 11:15

וַ/יַּֽעֲמֶד ʻâmad H5975 "to stand" Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Definition: : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against 1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to station, set 1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain 1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect 1b4) to present (one) before (king) 1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish 1c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before
Usage: Occurs in 497 OT verses. KJV: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. See also: Genesis 18:8; Joshua 21:44; 1 Chronicles 6:17.
ל/וֹ֙ "" Prep | Suff
כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים kôhên H3548 "priest" N-mp
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Definition: 1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler 1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d) Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the high priest Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)
Usage: Occurs in 653 OT verses. KJV: chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. See also: Genesis 14:18; Leviticus 13:33; Numbers 17:2.
לַ/בָּמ֖וֹת bâmâh H1116 "high place" Prep | N-fp
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.
Definition: 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?
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: height, high place, wave. See also: Leviticus 26:30; 1 Chronicles 16:39; Psalms 18:34.
וְ/לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ים sâʻîyr H8163 "hairy" Conj | Prep | N-mp
This word can refer to a wild goat or a satyr, a mythical creature. In the Bible, it may also describe a demon-possessed animal, like the ones in Matthew 8:30-32.
Definition: adj hairy
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. See also: Genesis 27:11; Numbers 7:52; Isaiah 13:21.
וְ/לָ/עֲגָלִ֖ים ʻêgel H5695 "calf" Conj | Prep | N-mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a young male calf, nearly grown into a steer. It appears in the book of Exodus and Leviticus, describing animal sacrifices. The word is often translated as 'bullock' or 'calf'.
Definition: calf, bull-calf
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: bullock, calf. See also: Exodus 32:4; 2 Chronicles 13:8; Psalms 29:6.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר ʼăsher H834 "which" Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
עָשָֽׂה ʻâsâh H6213 "to make" V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.

Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 11:15

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
2 1 Kings 12:31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
3 1 Kings 13:33 Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places.
4 Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.
5 Revelation 16:14 These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
6 Hosea 13:2 Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
7 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
8 Hosea 8:5–6 He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.
9 Psalms 106:19–20 At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
10 Exodus 32:31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves.

2 Chronicles 11:15 Summary

This verse tells us that Jeroboam, the king of Israel, appointed his own priests to worship false gods, including goat demons and calf idols, which he had made. This was a mistake, because God had already chosen the Levites to be His priests, as seen in Numbers 3:6-10. By appointing his own priests, Jeroboam was rebelling against God's order, and leading the people of Israel away from the true worship of God (Deuteronomy 12:1-3). We can learn from Jeroboam's mistake by making sure to follow God's commands and worship Him alone, and being careful not to create our own idols or false gods in our lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jeroboam appoint his own priests?

Jeroboam appointed his own priests because he had rejected the Levites, who were the true priests of the Lord, as seen in 2 Chronicles 11:14. This was a direct rebellion against God's ordained order, similar to the rebellion seen in 1 Samuel 8:7.

What were the goat demons and calf idols?

The goat demons and calf idols were false gods that Jeroboam had made, which were likely inspired by the surrounding pagan cultures, as seen in Exodus 32:4 and Leviticus 17:7. These idols were a corruption of the true worship of God.

How did Jeroboam's actions affect the people of Israel?

Jeroboam's actions led to a divide among the people of Israel, with those who wanted to follow the Lord going to Judah and Jerusalem, as seen in 2 Chronicles 11:16. This divide was a result of Jeroboam's rebellion against God's ordained order.

What can we learn from Jeroboam's mistakes?

We can learn that rebellion against God's order and worshiping false gods leads to division and corruption, as seen in 2 Chronicles 11:15 and Deuteronomy 12:3. We must be careful to follow God's commands and worship Him alone, as seen in Exodus 20:3-5.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do I ensure that I am worshiping the one true God, and not creating my own idols or false gods in my life?
  2. In what ways can I be tempted to follow the example of Jeroboam and appoint my own 'priests' or create my own way of worship, rather than following God's ordained order?
  3. How can I discern between true and false worship, and make sure that my heart is focused on seeking the Lord?
  4. What are some 'high places' or 'idols' in my life that I need to tear down, in order to follow God wholeheartedly, as seen in 2 Chronicles 14:3 and Matthew 22:37?

Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 11:15

And he ordained him priests for the high places,.... Of such who were not of the tribe of Levi, and family of Aaron; see 1 Kings 12:31 and for the devils; demons in the shape of goats, as this word

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 11:15

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. He ordained him priests.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:15

Or, for the high places, both for the devils (i.e. the Baals, or false gods, which divers of his people worshipped, whom he permitted and encouraged to do so, giving them liberty to do any thing but to serve God at Jerusalem) and for the calves. So he erected two sorts of high places, some for Baal, and some for the true God, whom he pretended and would be thought to worship in and by the calves.

Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:15

2 Chronicles 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.Ver. 15. And he ordained him priests.] See 1 Kings 12:31. And for the devils.] Heb., Hairy horrid things, boegy men. See Revelation 9:11; Revelation 9:20. The devil is ειδωλοχαρης, saith Synesius; and hereby it appeareth that Jeroboam set up more idols than the two golden calves.

Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:15

(15) And he ordained.—And had appointed (1 Chronicles 15:16-17; 1 Chronicles 22:2). For the high places.—Bâmôth. (See Note on 1 Kings 12:31 seqq.) Such local sanctuaries existed not only at Dan and Bethel, but also in other cities of the northern kingdom. (Comp. 2 Kings 17:9.) And for the devils.—Sĕ ?‘îrîm, “satyrs” (Isaiah 13:21). Literally, goats. (See Note on Leviticus 17:7.) The phrase indicates a prevalence of debasing idolatry in the time of Jeroboam. And for the calves.—See Note on 1 Kings 12:28. The “calves” represented the God of Israel. It appears therefore that Jeroboam encouraged a system of syncretism, or mixture of worships.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:15

Verse 15. And he ordained him priests - for the devils] שעירים seirim, the hairy ones; probably goats: for as the golden calves, or oxen, were in imitation of the Egyptian ox-god, Apis; so they no doubt paid Divine honours to the goat, which we know was an object of religious veneration in Egypt.

Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 11:15

15. the devils] R.V. the he-goats (Leviticus 17:7 R.V.). The heathen Arabs believed in the existence of demons (called jinn) having various animal forms and inhabiting deserted places, and this belief was probably shared by the Hebrews. In this verse and in Leviticus 17:7, the writers seem to identify the gods worshipped by the heathen with these jinn. (Cp. W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, pp. 120 ff.). the calves] Not previously mentioned in Chron.; 1 Kings 12:28.

Barnes' Notes on 2 Chronicles 11:15

The high places - i. e., the two sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel. For the devils - literally, “for the goats:” probably the word is used (as in Leviticus 17:7) for objects of idolatrous worship generally.

Whedon's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:15

15. Ordained him priests — See on 1 Kings 12:31. For the devils —μωׂ ?ςιψιν, for the goats.

Sermons on 2 Chronicles 11:15

SermonDescription
David Guzik (1 Kings) a Great Victory, and the Aftermath of It by David Guzik In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. He highlights the passion and commitment of the prophets of Baal, but emphasizes that their de
A.W. Pink Elijah’s Dramatic Appearance by A.W. Pink A.W. Pink discusses the dramatic appearance of Elijah during a dark period in Israel's history, marked by rampant idolatry and wicked kings. He highlights the spiritual decline ini
John A. Broadus Lessons for the Tempted by John A. Broadus The preacher delves into the meaning of 'qualified' in the Bible, emphasizing that believers are made fit and sufficient through the completed act of Jesus' crucifixion, allowing t
Thomas Brooks One Sin Never Goes Alone by Thomas Brooks Thomas Brooks emphasizes that small sins often lead to greater sins, illustrating this with biblical examples such as Cain, Ahab, Jeroboam, and Judas. He warns that yielding to min
C.I. Scofield Jeroboam's Idolatry by C.I. Scofield C.I. Scofield delves into the story of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12:25-33, highlighting the dangers of substituting true religion with false religion and the consequences of apostasy. Je
Bill McLeod Exposing the Occult by Bill McLeod In this sermon, the speaker shares personal experiences and observations of occult involvement and spiritual invasion. He recounts witnessing a young man in church who appeared to
Chuck Smith Ezekiel 37 by Chuck Smith Chuck Smith discusses the prophetic significance of Ezekiel 37, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the latter days and the return of Israel to its land as a sign
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