39 Bible Verses about High Places
Most Relevant Verses
The LORD God is my strength, he shall make my feet as the feet of harts: and he which giveth the victory, shall bring me to my high places, singing upon my psalms.
He set him up upon a high land, and he ate the increase of the fields. And he gave him honey to suck out of the rock, and oil out of the hard stone.
He maketh my feet like hart's feet, and setteth me up on high. {TYNDALE: And maketh my feet as swift as a hind's, and setteth me fast upon my high hold.}
And maketh my feet as swift as a hind's, and setteth me fast upon my high hold.
For lo, he maketh the mountains, he ordaineth the wind, he showeth man what he is about to do: he maketh the morning and the darkness, he treadeth upon the high places of the earth: the LORD God of hosts is his name.'"
For why? Behold, the LORD shall go out of his place, and come down, and tread upon the high things of the earth.
Only the people sacrificed in altars made on hills, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the ordinances of David his father, save only that he sacrificed and offered cense upon altars in hills.
And the maidens answered them, "Yea, behold, he goeth before you. Make haste now, for he came this day to the city, for the people must offer this day in the hill.
When ye be come into the city, so shall you find him, yer he go up to the hill to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he must bless the offering. And then eat they that be bidden to the feast. Now therefore get you up for even now shall ye find him." And they went up into the city. And when they were come into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the hill.
After that, thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the Philistines keep their watch. And when thou art come thither to the city thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the hill, with a psaltery, a timbrel, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they prophesying.
Happy art thou Israel: who is like unto thee? A people that art saved by the LORD; thy shield, and helper, and sword of thy glory. And thine enemies shall hide themselves from thee, and thou shalt walk upon their high hills."
They went up to the idols' house, even to Dibon to the high places, to weep for Nebo; and Moab did mourn for Medeba. All their heads were bald, and all their beards shaven.
And it shall come to pass, that when it is seen that Moab shall be made weary of his hill-chapels, he shall come to his temple to pray - but he shall not be made able.
And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi.
And I will destroy your altars built upon high hills, and overthrow your images, and cast your carcasses upon the bodies of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
see that ye drive out all the inhabiters of the land before you, and destroy their imaginations and all their images of metal, and pluck down all their altars built on hills:
See that ye destroy all places where the nations which ye conquer serve their gods, upon high mountains and on high hills and under every green tree.
For after I had brought them into the land that I promised to give them, when they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees: they made there offerings, and provoked me with their oblations, making sweet savours there, and poured out their drink offerings. Then I ask them, 'What is that hill altar that you go to it?' And therefore is it called Bamah unto this day.
Wherefore, I will make all your substance and treasure be spoiled, for the great sin that ye have done upon your high places throughout all the coasts of your land.
They have builded high places for Baal in the valley of the children of Hinnom, to cause their sons and daughters to pass through fire in honor of Moloch: which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought, to make Judah sin with such abomination.
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Is it not that Hezekiah that put down his hill altars and his other altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, 'Before one altar ye shall bow yourselves and upon that offer also?'
He put away the hill altars, and brake the images and cut down the groves, and all to brake the brazen serpent that Moses made - for unto those days the children of Israel did burn sacrifice to it, and called it Nehushtan.
And when they had finished all this, then all Israel that were found in cities of Judah went out and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and all to break the hill altars and the other altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end of them. And afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession in their own cities.
And there they sacrificed in the Hill altars, as did the heathen which the LORD carried away at their coming, and wrought wicked deeds, to anger the LORD withal.
And he sacrificed all the priests of the hill altars that were there, even upon the altars, and burnt men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.
And in all the cities of Judah, city by city, he made hill altars to burn incense unto other gods, and angered the LORD God of his fathers.
that said unto me, "O thou son of man, this room is my seat, and the place of my footsteps: whereas I will dwell among the children of Israel for evermore - so that the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, through their whoredom; through their high places; and through the dead bodies of their kings,
and took away the altars of strangers and the hill altars, and brake the Images and cut down the groves,
And his heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD, and he put down yet more of the hill altars and groves out of Judah.
And he put down the Chemarims which the kings of Judah had set to burn offerings in the hill altars in the cities of Judah round about Jerusalem and also them that burnt sacrifices unto Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city.
But he put not down the hill altars. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was whole with the LORD all his days.
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom. But did that was right in the eyes of the LORD. Only he did not put the hill altars out of the way: for the people offered and burnt their sacrifices yet in the hill altars.
And he did that pleased the LORD, as long as Jehoiada the Priest informed him. But they took not away the hill altars, for the people slew and offered still in the hill altars.
And he did that pleased the LORD, yet not like David his father: but did in all things as Joash his father did. Neither took they away the hill altars. But the people slew and offered still in the hill altars.
And he did that pleased the LORD in all things, as did his father Amaziah, save that they put not the hill altars away: for the people offered and burned fat still in the hill altars.
And he walked in the way of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom, to do that was pleasant in the sight of the LORD. Howbeit, they put not down the hill altars, neither did the people yet prepare their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
Bible Theasaurus
From Thematic Bible
High places » Sometimes used for true worship
And he said, "Take thy only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee unto the land of Moria, and sacrifice him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will show thee."
After that, thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the Philistines keep their watch. And when thou art come thither to the city thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the hill, with a psaltery, a timbrel, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they prophesying.
Then Jacob did sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and tarried all night in the hill.
But now send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel; and the Prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty; and the Prophets of the groves; four hundred, which eat of Jezebel's table.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
High places » A term used to describe places of worship
Then departed he thence unto a mountain that lieth on the east side of Bethel and pitched his tent - Bethel being on the west side, and Ai on the east - and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD.
And David built there an altar unto the LORD and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. And so the LORD was agreed with the land. And the plague ceased from Israel.
And he said, "Take thy only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee unto the land of Moria, and sacrifice him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will show thee."
Then Jacob did sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and tarried all night in the hill.
And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter.
High places » Condemned
see that ye drive out all the inhabiters of the land before you, and destroy their imaginations and all their images of metal, and pluck down all their altars built on hills:
For the saying which he cried at the bidding of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of hill altars which are in the cities of Samaria, shall come to pass."
They have also builded an altar at Tophet, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom: that they might burn their sons and daughters - which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought.
and took away the altars of strangers and the hill altars, and brake the Images and cut down the groves,
And I will destroy your altars built upon high hills, and overthrow your images, and cast your carcasses upon the bodies of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
High places » Signify a place of idolatrous worship
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Howbeit, every nation made their own gods and put them in the houses of the Hill altars which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities where they dwelt.
They have also builded an altar at Tophet, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom: that they might burn their sons and daughters - which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought.
And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi.
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father and bowed not therefrom. But did that was right in the eyes of the LORD. Only he did not put the hill altars out of the way: for the people offered and burnt their sacrifices yet in the hill altars.
High places » God sometimes worshipped on
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
And the maidens answered them, "Yea, behold, he goeth before you. Make haste now, for he came this day to the city, for the people must offer this day in the hill.
Only the people sacrificed in altars made on hills, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD until those days.
Nevertheless, the people did offer still in the hill altars; howbeit unto the LORD their God only.
High places » Destroyed by » Asa, partially
But they put not the hill altars out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was pure all his life.
and took away the altars of strangers and the hill altars, and brake the Images and cut down the groves,
High places » Destroyed by » hezekiah
And when they had finished all this, then all Israel that were found in cities of Judah went out and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and all to break the hill altars and the other altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end of them. And afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession in their own cities.
He put away the hill altars, and brake the images and cut down the groves, and all to brake the brazen serpent that Moses made - for unto those days the children of Israel did burn sacrifice to it, and called it Nehushtan.
High places » Destroyed by » Josiah
Insomuch that the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a lad, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of hill altars, groves, carved Images, and Images of metal:
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city.
High places » Built by » Manasseh
And he went and built the hill altars again, which Hezekiah his father had destroyed. And he reared up altars to Baal and made groves, as did Ahab king of Israel. And he bowed himself unto all the host of heaven and served them.
For he went to and built again the hill altars which Hezekiah his father had broken down. And he reared up altars unto Baals and made groves and bowed himself unto all the host of heaven and served them.
High places » The jews » Built, in all their streets
Thou hast builded thy stews and brothel houses in every place: yea, at the head of every street hast thou builded thee an altar.
Building thy stews at the head of every street, and thy brothel houses in all places? Thou hast not been as another whore, that maketh boast of her winning;
High places » The jews » Punished for
And there they sacrificed in the Hill altars, as did the heathen which the LORD carried away at their coming, and wrought wicked deeds, to anger the LORD withal.
Wherefore the LORD was exceeding wroth with Israel and put them out of his sight, that there was left but the tribe of Judah only.
High places » Priests ordained for
And Jeroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like unto the feast that was in Judah, and offered on the altar. And so did he in Bethel, to offer unto the calves that he had made. And he put in Bethel the priests of the hill altars, which he had made.
Howbeit, for all that, Jeroboam turned not from his wicked way: but turned away and made of the lowest of the people priests of the hill altars. Whosoever would, he filled their hands, and they became priests of the hill altars.
High places » Sacrifices and incense offered to idols upon
But they took not away the hill altars, for the people slew and offered still in the hill altars.
And he offered and burnt the fat in the hill altars and on the hills and under every green tree.
High places » Enchantments used upon
When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD that he should bless Israel, he went not as he did twice before to fetch soothsaying, but set his face toward the wilderness,
And Balaam said unto Balak, "Stand by the sacrifice, while I go to know whether the LORD will come and meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me, I will tell thee." And he went forthwith.
High places » Built by » Jehoram
Moreover, he made hill altars in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabiters of Jerusalem to commit adultery, and he thrust Judah out of the way.
High places » Built by » Ahaz
And in all the cities of Judah, city by city, he made hill altars to burn incense unto other gods, and angered the LORD God of his fathers.
High places » The idolatrous, to be destroyed
see that ye drive out all the inhabiters of the land before you, and destroy their imaginations and all their images of metal, and pluck down all their altars built on hills:
And I will destroy your altars built upon high hills, and overthrow your images, and cast your carcasses upon the bodies of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
High places » Destroyed by » Jehoshaphat
And his heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD, and he put down yet more of the hill altars and groves out of Judah.
High places » The jews » Condemned for building
After all these thy wickednesses, woe, woe unto thee, sayeth the LORD. Thou hast builded thy stews and brothel houses in every place: yea, at the head of every street hast thou builded thee an altar. Thou hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, thou hast laid out thy legs to every one that came by, and multiplied thine whoredom. read more.
Thou hast committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, which had much flesh: and thus hast thou used thine whoredom to anger me. Behold, I will stretch out mine hand over thee, and will diminish thy store of food, and deliver thee over into the wiles of the Philistines thine enemies, which are ashamed of thy abominable way. Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, which might not satisfy thee. Yea, thou hast played the harlot, and not had enough. Thus hast thou still committed thy fornication from the land of Canaan unto the Chaldeans, and yet thy lust not satisfied. How should I circumcise thine heart, sayeth the LORD God, seeing thou doest all these things, thou precious whore? Building thy stews at the head of every street, and thy brothel houses in all places? Thou hast not been as another whore, that maketh boast of her winning; but as a wife that breaketh wedlock, and taketh other instead of her husband. Gifts are given to all other whores, but thou givest rewards unto all thy lovers; and offerest them gifts, to come unto thee out of all places and to commit fornication with thee. It is come to pass with thee in thy whoredoms, contrary to the use of other women: yea, there hath no such fornication been committed after thee, seeing that thou profferest gifts unto other, and no regard is given thee. This is a contrary thing. "'Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O thou harlot.
High places » The jews » Provoked God with
And Judah wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD and angered him above all that their fathers did, with their sin which they sinned. For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree.
High places » The jews » Threatened with destruction of
And I will destroy your altars built upon high hills, and overthrow your images, and cast your carcasses upon the bodies of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
High places » Used for idolatrous worship
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his outlandish wives, which burnt cense and offered unto their gods.
High places » Mentioned in scripture » Tophet
They have also builded an altar at Tophet, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom: that they might burn their sons and daughters - which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought.
High places » Mentioned in scripture » Bamah
Then I ask them, 'What is that hill altar that you go to it?' And therefore is it called Bamah unto this day.
High places » Mentioned in scripture » Arnon
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites and the men of the hills of Arnon!
High places » Mentioned in scripture » Baal
And on the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high place of Baal, and thence he saw unto the utmost part of the people.
High places » Built by » People of judah
For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree.
High places » Built by » Jeroboam
And he made houses of hill altars, and made, of the lowest of the people, priests which were not of the sons of Levi.
High places » Of the canaanites to be destroyed
see that ye drive out all the inhabiters of the land before you, and destroy their imaginations and all their images of metal, and pluck down all their altars built on hills:
High places » Surrounded with groves
For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree.
High places » Adorned with tapestry
Yea, thou hast taken thy garments of divers colors, and decked thine altars therewith, whereupon thou mightest fulfill thine whoredom, of such a fashion as never was done, nor shall be.
High places » Jotham
But they put not away the hill altars: for the people offered and burnt cense still in the hill altars. He built the highest door in the house of the LORD.
High places » The jews » Built, in their cities
And the children of Israel wrapped themselves in things that were not well toward the LORD their God. And they built them Hill altars in all their cities, both in the towers where they kept watch and also in the strong towns.
High places » Built by » People of israel
And the children of Israel wrapped themselves in things that were not well toward the LORD their God. And they built them Hill altars in all their cities, both in the towers where they kept watch and also in the strong towns.
High places » Built by » Solomon
After that, Solomon built an altar for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites in the hill that standeth before Jerusalem, and unto Moloch the abomination of the children of Ammon.
High places » Licentious practices at
Thou hast builded thy stews and brothel houses in every place: yea, at the head of every street hast thou builded thee an altar. Thou hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, thou hast laid out thy legs to every one that came by, and multiplied thine whoredom. Thou hast committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, which had much flesh: and thus hast thou used thine whoredom to anger me. read more.
Behold, I will stretch out mine hand over thee, and will diminish thy store of food, and deliver thee over into the wiles of the Philistines thine enemies, which are ashamed of thy abominable way. Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, which might not satisfy thee. Yea, thou hast played the harlot, and not had enough. Thus hast thou still committed thy fornication from the land of Canaan unto the Chaldeans, and yet thy lust not satisfied. How should I circumcise thine heart, sayeth the LORD God, seeing thou doest all these things, thou precious whore? Building thy stews at the head of every street, and thy brothel houses in all places? Thou hast not been as another whore, that maketh boast of her winning; but as a wife that breaketh wedlock, and taketh other instead of her husband. Gifts are given to all other whores, but thou givest rewards unto all thy lovers; and offerest them gifts, to come unto thee out of all places and to commit fornication with thee. It is come to pass with thee in thy whoredoms, contrary to the use of other women: yea, there hath no such fornication been committed after thee, seeing that thou profferest gifts unto other, and no regard is given thee. This is a contrary thing. "'Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O thou harlot. Thus sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as thou hast spent thy money, and discovered thy shame - through thy whoredom with all thy lovers, and with all the Idols of thy abominations, in the blood of thy children whom thou hast given them - Behold therefore, I will gather together all thy lovers, unto whom thou hast made thy self common. Yea, and all them whom thou favourest, and euery one that thou hatest: and will uncover thy shame before them, that they all may see thy filthiness. Moreover, I will judge thee as a breaker of wedlock and a murderer, and recompense thee thine own blood in wrath and jealousy. I will give thee over into their power, that shall break down thy stews, and destroy thy brothel houses: they shall strip thee out of thy clothes, all thy fair and beautiful Jewels shall they take from thee, and so let thee sit naked and bare. Yea, they shall bring the common people upon thee, which shall stone thee, and slay thee down with their swords. They shall burn up thy houses, and punish thee in the sight of many women. Thus will I make thy whoredom to cease, so that thou shalt give out no more rewards. Should I make my wrath to be still, take my jealousy from thee, be content, and no more to be displeased? Seeing thou rememberest not the days of thy youth, but hast provoked me to wrath in all these things? Behold therefore, I will bring thine own ways upon thine head, sayeth the LORD God: howbeit, I never did unto thee, according to thy wickedness and all thy abominations.
High places » Jehoash
But they took not away the hill altars, for the people slew and offered still in the hill altars.
High places » Azariah
save that they put not the hill altars away: for the people offered and burned fat still in the hill altars.
High places » Amaziah
Neither took they away the hill altars. But the people slew and offered still in the hill altars.
High places » Mentioned in scripture » gibeon
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
High places » Mentioned in scripture » Aven
The high places of Aven, where Israel do sin, shall be cast down: thistles and thorns shall grow upon their altars. Then shall they say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall upon us."
High places » Jehoshaphat destroys
And his heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD, and he put down yet more of the hill altars and groves out of Judah.
High places » Hezekiah destroys
He put away the hill altars, and brake the images and cut down the groves, and all to brake the brazen serpent that Moses made - for unto those days the children of Israel did burn sacrifice to it, and called it Nehushtan.
High places » Josiah destroys
And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the hill altars where the priests did burn sacrifice, even from Geba to Beersheba. And he brake down the hill altars of the Gates, that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left hand of the gate of the city.
High places » Asa destroys
and took away the altars of strangers and the hill altars, and brake the Images and cut down the groves,
Topics on High Places
Sacrificing On The High Places
Ezekiel 20:28For after I had brought them into the land that I promised to give them, when they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees: they made there offerings, and provoked me with their oblations, making sweet savours there, and poured out their drink offerings.