Even when a king made a step away from total idolatry, it wasn't enough for God. The verse highlights how a partial rejection of sin, like removing one idol but still doing "what was evil," still fell short in God's eyes. It's a reminder that for God, obedience is wholehearted, not just a partial upgrade.
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Jehoram has just ascended to the throne of Israel, a kingdom deeply steeped in idolatry. While he continues the kingdom's overall trend of doing evil in God's eyes, this particular verse highlights a slight, yet significant, departure from his parents' extreme devotion to the pagan god Baal. The context immediately before and after shows this mixed legacy, as he faces a critical military and spiritual crisis.
How can someone do 'evil in the sight of the LORD' and still be better than their parents? This verse unpacks a complicated spiritual reality.
King Jehu is described as doing evil, a serious charge in the Old Testament. This means he turned away from God's ways and likely engaged in practices that displeased Him.
However, the verse immediately qualifies this: 'though not like his father and mother.' This highlights that spiritual journeys aren't always black and white. His parents were apparently even deeper in their sin, specifically in their worship of Baal.
Jehu's one act of removing the 'pillar of Baal' shows a crack in his otherwise evil path. It's a step away from the worst of idolatry, even if he didn't fully turn to the Lord. This teaches us that God sees our steps, both forward and backward, and can note even the smallest moves away from sin, even while holding us accountable for our overall choices.
What was so bad about a 'pillar of Baal'? This verse points to a deep-seated problem that plagued Israel for generations.
The 'pillar of Baal' wasn't just a decorative statue; it was a symbol and likely a focal point for worship of Baal, a Canaanite god associated with fertility and storms.
Worshipping Baal was a direct rejection of the LORD, the God who had delivered Israel from Egypt and given them their land. It involved practices that were sexually immoral and often included violence.
Jehu's act of removing this pillar was significant because it directly challenged the deeply entrenched idolatry that had become normalized, even by his parents. It shows that breaking free from sin often means confronting and removing the very symbols and practices that foster it.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew title for the covenant God of Israel (Yahweh), representing His self-existent nature and His personal relationship with His people.
raʿ · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A generic term for moral or religious wickedness that is contrary to the character and will of God. It often refers to idolatry or the breaking of covenant obligations.
matstsebah · Hebrew Noun
A stone monument or sacred standing stone often associated with Canaanite worship and fertility cults, which God commanded His people to destroy.
Baʿal · Hebrew Noun
The principal male deity of the Canaanite pantheon, worshipped as a storm and fertility god. In the Bible, it represents the primary rival to the worship of Yahweh.
dabaq · Hebrew Verb
A term describing a persistent, devoted attachment or loyalty to a person, object, or practice. In a negative spiritual sense, it denotes being glued to or remaining steadfast in sinful habits.
chatta'th · Hebrew Noun
Any act, thought, or attitude that misses the mark of God's perfect standard or violates His law. It is fundamentally an act of rebellion against the sovereignty of the Creator.
Ahaziah's reign, though brief and still steeped in sin, shows a slight shift from his parents' full embrace of Baal worship by removing his father's prominent Baal pillar, indicating a complex religious landscape even within the ruling family.
c. 874-853 BC
Reign of Ahab
King Ahab, son of Omri, reigned in Israel. He married Jezebel and heavily promoted the worship of Baal, building a temple and altar to Baal in Samaria.
c. 870 BC
Elijah's Confrontation
The prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, exposing the powerlessness of Baal and reaffirming the Lord's sovereignty.
c. 853 BC
Death of Ahab
King Ahab died in battle against the Syrians, as predicted by the prophet Micaiah, and was succeeded by his son Ahaziah.
c. 853-852 BC— this verse
Reign of Ahaziah
Ahaziah, son of Ahab, reigned as king of Israel for a short period. He continued in the ways of his father, serving Baal.
c. 852 BC
Death of Ahaziah
Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper chamber and was fatally injured. He inquired of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, concerning his recovery, angering the Lord.
This passage describes Ahab and Jezebel's deep dive into Baal worship, which Jehu's successor, Jehoahaz, is trying to distance himself from, showing a contrast in their devotion.
2 Kings 10:18-28Jehu, who famously wiped out Baal worship in Israel, provides a stark example of decisive action against idolatry, making Jehoahaz's partial removal of the Baal pillar seem less impactful.
Jeremiah 7:29-31The prophet Jeremiah condemns the horrific practices of child sacrifice and idolatry, echoing the kind of deep-seated sin that Jehoahaz was only partially moving away from.
Romans 12:1-2Paul's call for believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to the world highlights the ongoing struggle between good and evil, and the need for complete surrender, which Jehoahaz only partially achieved.
Even when a king made a step away from total idolatry, it wasn't enough for God. The verse highlights how a partial rejection of sin, like removing one idol but still doing "what was evil," still fell short in God's eyes. It's a reminder that for God, obedience is wholehearted, not just a partial upgrade.
King Jehoram has just ascended to the throne of Israel, a kingdom deeply steeped in idolatry. While he continues the kingdom's overall trend of doing evil in God's eyes, this particular verse highlights a slight, yet significant, departure from his parents' extreme devotion to the pagan god Baal. The context immediately before and after shows this mixed legacy, as he faces a critical military and spiritual crisis.
King Jehoram has just ascended to the throne of Israel, a kingdom deeply steeped in idolatry. While he continues the kingdom's overall trend of doing evil in God's eyes, this particular verse highlights a slight, yet significant, departure from his parents' extreme devotion to the pagan god Baal. The context immediately before and after shows this mixed legacy, as he faces a critical military and spiritual crisis.
"He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin;…" — Even when a king made a step away from total idolatry, it wasn't enough for God. The verse highlights how a partial rejection of sin, like removing one idol but still doing "what was evil," still fel…
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Last reviewed October 2026
