1 Chronicles 16 2

1 Chronicles 16:2 kjv

And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16:2 nkjv

And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16:2 niv

After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16:2 esv

And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD

1 Chronicles 16:2 nlt

When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16 verses

1 Chronicles 16 2 Meaning

Following the dedication of the newly set up tent for the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem and the completion of various sacrificial offerings, King David, acting in his authoritative role as God's anointed leader, formally invoked divine favor and prosperity upon the entire congregation of Israel. This act signified God's active presence and benevolent intention towards His people, conveyed through the office of His chosen king.

1 Chronicles 16 2 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 16 recounts the momentous day when King David successfully brought the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's very presence, into Jerusalem and placed it in a tent prepared specifically for it. This event marks a crucial shift in Israel's history, centralizing worship in the capital. The preceding verses (1 Chr 15-16:1) describe the triumphant procession, the solemn placement of the Ark, and the initial massive offerings of burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, signifying both atonement and fellowship with God. Verse 2 occurs immediately after these foundational acts of worship, portraying David's response and formal act of blessing the people. Historically, this event preceded the building of the permanent Temple by Solomon but established Jerusalem as the spiritual center and unified the nation under divine worship, guided by the king's pious leadership.

1 Chronicles 16 2 Word analysis

• And when David had finished offering: This phrase highlights the completion and the sequential nature of the event. David ensured all necessary sacrifices were properly conducted and concluded according to ritual requirements. The Hebrew "וַיְכַל לְהַעֲלוֹת" (way'khal ləha'alōwt) implies a comprehensive and final act of ritual presentation.
• the burnt offerings: Hebrew "עֹלוֹת" (ʻōlōt). These sacrifices were entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, surrender, and atonement for sin. Their purpose was to make atonement and demonstrate wholehearted devotion to God.
• and the peace offerings: Hebrew "וּשְׁלָמִים" (u'shəlamim). These offerings, also known as fellowship offerings, were shared, with specific portions given to God (burnt), to the priests, and the remaining to the offerers for a communal meal. They signified fellowship, communion, reconciliation, and thanksgiving, fostering a sense of peace between God and His people, and within the community itself. The completion of both types of offerings signified a full spectrum of restored relationship with God.
• he blessed: Hebrew "וַיְבָרֶךְ" (way'vakharekh). From the root barak, meaning "to kneel" or "to bless." This was not merely a good wish but a solemn, authoritative declaration invoking God's favor and goodness upon the people. As king, David acted as God's representative in conveying this blessing, similar to the High Priest's role in Numbers 6.
• the people: This refers to the entire congregation of Israel present, signifying a corporate reception of God's grace and favor. This communal blessing reinforced their unity as God's covenant people, reminding them of their shared identity and reliance on divine beneficence.
• in the name of the Lord: Hebrew "בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה" (bəshēm Yahweh). This crucial phrase clarifies that the blessing did not originate from David's inherent power or goodness, but rather through the authority and power of God Himself. "Yahweh" is God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His faithful and relational character. David was a channel, a mediator of divine blessing, exercising his kingly authority under God's supreme authority. This act reinforced the concept that Yahweh was the true source of all blessing and the ultimate ruler, distinguishing the God of Israel from pagan deities whose kings claimed inherent divinity.

1 Chronicles 16 2 Bonus section

The scene described in 1 Chronicles 16:2 is directly paralleled in 2 Samuel 6:18, indicating its immense significance in the narratives of David's reign. The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic community, highlights David's exemplary worship leadership and his role in establishing the liturgical foundations of Israel, reminding the repatriated Jews of their spiritual heritage and the importance of proper worship. This blessing underscored the covenant relationship between Yahweh, the king, and the people, assuring divine provision and protection following acts of faithfulness and worship. David's priestly-like action, though he was not a Levite, points to the future "royal priesthood" envisioned for all believers (1 Pet 2:9) and prefigures the unique King-Priest ministry of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies and perfectly executes both offices. The emphasis on "in the name of the Lord" serves as a timeless theological principle that all genuine authority and blessing originate from God, challenging any notion of human autonomy or self-derived power in spiritual matters. This also contrasts with surrounding pagan cultures where rulers often claimed divine attributes; David here acknowledges his dependence on God for any blessing conveyed.

1 Chronicles 16 2 Commentary

1 Chronicles 16:2 presents a pivotal moment of divine benediction flowing through human leadership. After establishing the visible sign of God's presence—the Ark—and consecrating the new worship site through extensive sacrifices that fully addressed both sin (burnt offerings) and communion (peace offerings), David's act of blessing was the natural and necessary culmination. It wasn't a casual well-wish but an authoritative proclamation of God's favor upon the gathered nation. David, as king, exemplified his dual role as civil ruler and spiritual leader, demonstrating that national prosperity and peace derived directly from God's presence and His benevolent hand, extended "in the name of the Lord." This emphasizes that true leadership in God's kingdom serves as a conduit for His divine purposes and blessings. This moment points forward to Christ, the ultimate King-Priest, who brings eternal peace through His once-for-all sacrifice and continually blesses His people. Believers today, serving as Christ's ambassadors, can pray for and "bless" others not by their own power, but by invoking God's authority, seeking His will and favor upon their lives, mirroring David's act in a New Covenant context (e.g., praying "in Jesus' name" for healing or provision).