diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/quran/labs/androidquran/ui/translation/TranslationAdapter.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/quran/labs/androidquran/ui/translation/TranslationAdapter.kt
index 030f6fe4f5..9dfb0ccb97 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/quran/labs/androidquran/ui/translation/TranslationAdapter.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/quran/labs/androidquran/ui/translation/TranslationAdapter.kt
@@ -423,21 +423,13 @@ internal class TranslationAdapter(
   }
 
   private fun updateHighlight(row: TranslationViewRow, holder: RowViewHolder) {
-    // toggle highlighting of the ayah, but not for sura headers and basmallah
+    // toggle highlighting of the ayah number and Quran text only
     val isHighlighted = row.ayahInfo.ayahId == highlightedAyah
-    if (row.type != TranslationViewRow.Type.SURA_HEADER &&
-      row.type != TranslationViewRow.Type.BASMALLAH &&
-      row.type != TranslationViewRow.Type.SPACER
-    ) {
+    if (row.type == TranslationViewRow.Type.VERSE_NUMBER ||
+      row.type == TranslationViewRow.Type.QURAN_TEXT) {
       holder.wrapperView.setBackgroundColor(
         if (isHighlighted) ayahSelectionColor else 0
       )
-    } else if (holder.divider != null) { // SPACER type
-      if (isHighlighted) {
-        holder.divider.highlight(ayahSelectionColor)
-      } else {
-        holder.divider.unhighlight()
-      }
     }
   }