1 Chronicles 13 11

1 Chronicles 13:11 kjv

And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.

1 Chronicles 13:11 nkjv

And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day.

1 Chronicles 13:11 niv

Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

1 Chronicles 13:11 esv

And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.

1 Chronicles 13:11 nlt

David was angry because the LORD's anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means "to burst out against Uzzah"), as it is still called today.

1 Chronicles 13 verses

1 Chronicles 13 11 Meaning

First Chronicles 13:11 describes David's deep displeasure and subsequent naming of a specific place after the Lord's immediate judgment upon Uzzah. This verse highlights the divine wrath that "broke forth" unexpectedly upon Uzzah when he touched the Ark of the Covenant, violating God's explicit commands regarding its handling. David's reaction underscores the sudden and fearful nature of God's holy anger when His sacred instructions are disregarded, even if done with seemingly good intentions. The naming of the place "Perez-uzza," meaning "The Breach of Uzzah," serves as a lasting memorial and a solemn reminder of this severe divine act.

1 Chronicles 13 11 Context

First Chronicles 13:11 is situated within the narrative of David's reign, specifically detailing his early attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem. This act was driven by David's fervent desire to centralize Israel's worship and establish God's presence at the heart of his kingdom. He had gathered "all Israel" (1 Chr 13:5) and prepared a grand procession, signifying his good intentions and zeal. However, David and his advisors overlooked specific Mosaic laws regarding the Ark's transportation; instead of having Levites carry it on poles as commanded (Num 4:15), they placed it on a new cart, a method used by the Philistines (1 Sam 6:7). The direct context involves the oxen stumbling, Uzzah reaching out to steady the Ark, and God's immediate judgment by striking him dead (1 Chr 13:9-10). This severe consequence led to David's shock, displeasure, and the subsequent halt of the Ark's journey to Jerusalem, with it being diverted to the house of Obed-Edom. The parallel account is found in 2 Samuel 6. Historically, this event serves as a critical lesson for David, teaching him that worship must adhere to divine prescription, not merely human zeal or innovation, emphasizing the profound holiness of God. It sets a powerful precedent regarding God's unyielding demand for obedience, especially in matters pertaining to His presence and worship.

1 Chronicles 13 11 Word analysis

• And David was displeased (וַיִּ֙חַר לְדָוִ֜ד֙ - vayyikhar lĕ-David):

  • Vayyikhar (from ḥārāh) means "it burned," referring to anger, indignation, or displeasure. This isn't just sadness; it implies strong emotional reaction, potentially frustration, sorrow, and confusion mixed with anger.
  • Significance: Reveals David's very human, mixed response to a divine act. He was not only grieving Uzzah but possibly vexed by God's seemingly unexpected, immediate judgment, especially when David believed he was doing good. This highlights a potential internal conflict between David's zealous intentions and his misunderstanding of God's absolute holiness and commands.
  • Polemics: Indirectly challenges the human tendency to assume good intentions alone suffice in approaching the Divine, counteracting any belief that ritual or divine interaction can be conducted casually or according to human discretion rather than divine ordinance.

• because the LORD (יְהֹוָ֥ה - Yahweh) had broken forth upon Uzza:

  • "the LORD" (Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, yet sovereign nature. It is this specific God who acted, reinforcing the direct divine intervention.
  • "had broken forth" (פָּרַץ - parats): Means to burst out, break through, make a breach, or forcefully break upon. It suggests a sudden, decisive, and overwhelming action that rips through boundaries.
  • Significance: Parats conveys the immediate and forceful nature of God's judgment. It was not a gradual decay or slow consequence but an instant, divine eruption of wrath. This emphasizes God's absolute holiness, His intolerance for any violation of His sacred commands, and the grave danger of presumptuous or careless handling of His holy things. It teaches that the boundary between the holy and the common is rigidly defined by God.

• upon Uzza:

  • Significance: Uzzah's death served as a visible and shocking object lesson. While his intent might have been to prevent the Ark from falling, his action was a direct violation of God's clear prohibition (Num 4:15; 1 Sam 6:19). God's justice is shown to be uncompromising, demanding strict obedience especially from those handling sacred duties.

• wherefore he called that place Perez-uzza (פֶּ֫רֶץ עֻזָּ֥א - Peretz Uzza):

  • "Perez" (Peretz): A noun directly derived from the verb parats, meaning "a breach," "a breaking through," "a disaster caused by breaking forth."
  • Significance: The naming of the place solidifies the event as a memorial. It permanently marks the site of divine judgment, reminding all of God's strict holiness and the dire consequences of disobedience. This place name ensures the event's perpetual remembrance, preventing future generations from repeating the error. It's a didactic act by David, learning from the divine lesson and passing it on.

• to this day:

  • Significance: This phrase is a common literary device in the Old Testament, affirming the historicity and continued relevance of the event for the chronicler's audience. It indicates that the name was still known and referenced during the time the text was written, grounding the narrative in a tangible historical reality and emphasizing the lasting impact and truth of the account.

1 Chronicles 13 11 Bonus section

The event of Uzzah's death highlights a central tension between human good intentions and divine commands. While David genuinely desired to honor God by bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, he proceeded according to human reasoning (like the Philistines' cart method) rather than God's clear instructions given to Moses regarding the Kohathites carrying the Ark by poles (Num 4:15; 7:9). God's judgment on Uzzah, though severe, served to impress upon David and all Israel the absolute sacredness of the Ark and, by extension, God's nature itself. This painful lesson was vital for David's leadership and the future worship life of Israel. The lesson here extends beyond the literal handling of an artifact to the principle that one cannot approach God on one's own terms; reverence and adherence to His revealed Word are paramount.

1 Chronicles 13 11 Commentary

First Chronicles 13:11 presents a crucial lesson on divine holiness and the necessity of strict obedience in worship. David's displeasure stemmed from the suddenness and severity of God's judgment, revealing a human reaction to the awesome, yet frightening, nature of a holy God whose standards are absolute. The "breaking forth" upon Uzzah underscores God's uncompromising sanctity; any perceived 'good intention' by Uzzah was irrelevant in the face of a direct divine command that the Ark was not to be touched. This incident taught David, and Israel, that zeal must be tempered with knowledge and adherence to God's revealed will, for neglecting His specific instructions can have fatal consequences. The naming of "Perez-uzza" ensures the event serves as a perpetual, sobering reminder that God demands reverence, order, and obedience above all else in approaching Him and His holy things. This experience profoundly shaped David's understanding of true worship, moving him from a charismatic leader's initiative to a reverent leader's careful adherence to God's prescribed ways.