1 Chronicles 21 16

1 Chronicles 21:16 kjv

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:16 nkjv

Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:16 niv

David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

1 Chronicles 21:16 esv

And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:16 nlt

David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground.

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 16 Meaning

In 1 Chronicles 21:16, King David perceives a terrifying vision of the angel of the Lord poised to strike Jerusalem with a devastating plague. This visual revelation served as a profound confirmation of God's immediate judgment for David's sin in numbering Israel. The angel, standing omnipotently between the earthly and heavenly realms with a drawn sword, symbolized the direct and active execution of divine wrath and impending destruction over the city.

1 Chronicles 21 16 Context

This verse is part of 1 Chronicles chapter 21, which recounts King David's unauthorized census of Israel. Prompted by "Satan" (1 Chron 21:1), David's decision demonstrated a lack of trust in God's provision and a reliance on human strength and numbers. This sin displeased the Lord, leading Him to present David with three options for punishment: famine, war, or a plague. David chose the plague, preferring to fall into God's hand, "for His mercy is very great."

The plague swept through Israel, killing 70,000 people. Verse 16 describes David's personal and horrifying vision of the angel responsible for the destruction. This immediate context underscores the gravity of David's sin, the severity of God's judgment, and prepares for David's immediate act of repentance and intercession, which ultimately leads to God relenting and instructing the building of an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan, a site that would later become the Temple mount.

Historically and culturally, the Old Testament often depicts God's judgment as direct and tangible, often through natural disasters, famine, war, or specifically, plagues. The "angel of the Lord" serves as a distinct agent of divine will, carrying out both benevolent and punitive actions. This episode reinforces the biblical understanding that even kings and nations are accountable to God, and disobedience carries severe consequences. It also highlights God's sovereignty over life and death and His ultimate control over judgment, even when He uses a messenger.

1 Chronicles 21 16 Word analysis

• And David lifted his eyes: Indicates a moment of intense focus and perception. This was a supernatural sight revealed directly to David, distinguishing him from the suffering people who likely did not see the angel. It highlights David's burden of leadership and the direct impact of his sin.

• and saw: Denotes a clear, terrifying vision, not a mere dream or spiritual intuition. It signifies the reality of God's judgment visibly manifesting.

• the angel of the Lord: In Hebrew, מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה (Mal'akh YHWH). This figure is a specific divine messenger, often acting with God's direct authority. In many Old Testament occurrences, the "angel of the Lord" is understood by some scholars as a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, or a direct manifestation of God Himself, highlighting God's immediate involvement in human affairs, especially in judgment or salvation. Here, it is specifically an agent of divine judgment.

• standing: Implies a fixed, authoritative, and terrifying presence. The angel is not passing by, but stationed, ready to carry out its grim task.

• between earth and heaven: This description conveys the angel's immense stature and pervasive reach, symbolizing the inescapable nature of God's judgment. It implies God's sovereignty extends over all realms and that His decree cannot be avoided by any physical means. It visually emphasizes the immediacy and transcendence of the divine threat.

• having a drawn sword: In Hebrew, חֶרֶב נְטוּשָׁה (cherev netushah). A "drawn" sword signifies readiness for combat, execution, and decisive action. The sword is a universal symbol of power, war, and particularly, judgment and retribution in the Bible. It denotes the active execution of God's wrath, a tool of divine punishment, swift and effective.

• in his hand: Emphasizes the direct agency of the angel in wielding the sword. This is not a distant, passive threat but an active instrument in a divine hand.

• stretched out over Jerusalem: Specifies the precise target of the angel's destructive power. Even Jerusalem, God's chosen city, is not immune to divine judgment when sin is present. This demonstrates God's impartiality and His unwavering justice concerning sin among His own people.

• David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord: This phrase indicates the personal revelation given to David, highlighting his direct encounter with the instrument of divine wrath. It is a moment of profound recognition of the consequences of his actions.

• standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem: This descriptive group of words paints a terrifying, comprehensive picture of an imminent, inescapable divine judgment. The position "between earth and heaven" shows cosmic authority and reach; the "drawn sword" confirms active, destructive intent; and "stretched out over Jerusalem" pinpoints the specific, vulnerable target.

1 Chronicles 21 16 Bonus section

• The sight of the angel confirmed the source and gravity of the ongoing plague, reinforcing the message from the prophet Gad and driving David to deeper repentance and immediate action.
• The detail that the angel was "stretched out over Jerusalem" foreshadows the later placement of the Temple on this very spot (Mount Moriah), turning a place of judgment into a place of atonement and worship. This transformation emphasizes God's redemptive purpose, turning a site of wrath into a center of reconciliation and divine presence.
• This passage powerfully illustrates the dual nature of God as both righteous judge and merciful deliverer, whose ultimate desire is for repentance rather than destruction, especially evident as the judgment is paused upon David's plea.

1 Chronicles 21 16 Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:16 captures a pivotal, terrifying moment where David directly witnesses the catastrophic consequence of his sin. The appearance of the angel of the Lord, identified here specifically as the agent of destruction, with a "drawn sword" ready to complete the plague on Jerusalem, underscores the dreadful reality of God's holiness and justice. This was no ordinary vision, but a stark, palpable manifestation of divine judgment. The angel's towering presence "between earth and heaven" signified God's ultimate authority and the comprehensive scope of His punitive action, a stark reminder that no place, not even His chosen city, is beyond the reach of His righteous anger when sin is unaddressed. David's profound encounter led to his immediate humility and intercession, forming the basis for the very location of the future Temple. It highlights that God's judgment, while severe, is also precise and responsive to true repentance.