1 Chronicles 21 19

1 Chronicles 21:19 kjv

And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:19 nkjv

So David went up at the word of Gad, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:19 niv

So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:19 esv

So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:19 nlt

So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him through Gad.

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 19 Meaning

First Chronicles 21:19 conveys David's immediate and obedient action in response to the divine instruction given through the prophet Gad. This specific directive guided him to ascend to the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, a pivotal location designated by God to receive atonement and halt the plague afflicting Israel, thereby also identifying the future site for the Temple of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21 19 Context

First Chronicles chapter 21 opens with Satan incitement David to conduct a census of Israel, an act rooted in pride and trust in human strength rather than in God. This disobedience incurs divine wrath, leading to a devastating plague that claims 70,000 lives. In his repentance, David sees the angel of the LORD with a drawn sword over Jerusalem, prompting God, out of compassion, to instruct David through the prophet Gad to build an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Verse 19 specifically details David's immediate and submissive response to this divine command. This event marks the cessation of the plague and, profoundly, designates the sacred ground where the First Temple would eventually be built by Solomon, symbolizing God's forgiveness and continued dwelling among His people after judgment and repentance.

1 Chronicles 21 19 Word analysis

• So David went up (ויעל דוד - va-ya'al David):

  • ויעל (va-ya'al): "And he went up" or "So he went up." The root (עלה, ʿalah) signifies ascending or going up. This implies a deliberate movement towards a higher or more significant place, aligning with the sacred nature of a threshing floor which, by its location and the purity required for grain, was often elevated. In this context, it emphasizes David's proactive and physical obedience.
  • David (דוד - David): The anointed king of Israel. His direct and prompt action underscores his submission to divine authority despite his earlier sin. This personalizes the command, showing the king's humility before God.

• at the word of Gad (בדבר גד - bi-dvar Gad):

  • בדבר (bi-dvar): "at the word of," or "according to the word of." The prefix 'bi-' indicates "by means of" or "according to." 'Davar' (דבר) means "word," "utterance," or "matter." This highlights that David's action was not self-initiated but was a direct response to a specific message.
  • Gad (גד - Gad): Known as "David's seer" or "prophet." He served as one of the trusted divine messengers to David, alongside Nathan. His role ensures the authenticity of the message as being from God, making him a crucial link in God's communication to His king and people.

• which he had spoken (אשר דבר - asher diber):

  • אשר (asher): A relative pronoun, "which," "that," or "who," connecting "the word of Gad" to its source of authority.
  • דבר (diber): "He had spoken." This Piel conjugation of the verb 'davar' suggests a deliberate and authoritative communication. It confirms that Gad actively delivered this divine message to David.

• in the name of the LORD (בשם יהוה - bi-shem Yahweh):

  • בשם (bi-shem): "In the name of." The prefix 'bi-' means "in" or "by." 'Shem' (שם) means "name." To act or speak "in the name of" someone signifies acting or speaking with their full authority, power, and representation.
  • the LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): The personal covenant name of God, the Tetragrammaton, revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and covenant faithfulness. This is the ultimate and decisive authority behind Gad's word. It establishes that the command originated not from Gad's human will but directly from the sovereign God, making obedience to it paramount.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So David went up at the word of Gad": This phrase illustrates swift and obedient action. David's ascent signifies his acceptance and willingness to fulfill God's command immediately, setting the stage for national deliverance and divine reconciliation. It emphasizes the direct chain of command from God to prophet to king.
  • "which he had spoken in the name of the LORD": This crucial declaration validates Gad's message as truly divine. It distinguishes God's authoritative word from human opinion or false prophecy, assuring David (and the reader) that the instructions are trustworthy and bear God's power and sanctity. This also functions as a safeguard against anyone doubting the legitimacy of the instructions.

1 Chronicles 21 19 Bonus section

• Mount Moriah Connection: The threshing floor of Ornan later became identified as Mount Moriah (2 Chr 3:1), the very place where Abraham demonstrated his ultimate obedience in offering Isaac (Gen 22:2). This deepens the theological significance of the site, connecting David's act of atoning sacrifice to foundational moments of faith and obedience in Israel's history, predestining it as the focal point for national worship.
• Costly Obedience: David insists on buying the threshing floor and oxen for a full price (1 Chr 21:24). He refuses Ornan's offer to give them freely, stating, "I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." This emphasizes that true sacrifice and obedience should come at a cost, reflecting genuine devotion and worthiness before God, rather than being a cheap, expedient gesture.
• Divine Revelation and Location: This incident underscores God's sovereignty in choosing and revealing the precise location for His Temple, rather than allowing human preference or strategizing to dictate such a critical matter. The plague and the subsequent revelation tied to this specific location demonstrate that God Himself establishes the conditions for atonement and dwelling among His people.

1 Chronicles 21 19 Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:19 is a concise yet profound declaration of King David's decisive obedience to God's immediate instruction, delivered through His prophet. Following the devastating consequences of David's census, this verse marks a pivotal moment of turning and divine grace. The detail "David went up" underscores his prompt action and submission; he didn't question or delay, demonstrating genuine repentance. The authority of the command is solidified by its origin: it came "at the word of Gad," explicitly confirmed as having been "spoken in the name of the LORD." This critical phrase clarifies that the prophet was not relaying his own counsel, but God's specific and infallible directive. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, this would have highlighted the unchanging reliability of God's word and the importance of heeding prophetic guidance for national restoration and the sanctity of divine worship, especially concerning the Temple's origins. This single act of obedience on Ornan's threshing floor laid the foundational sacred space for the LORD's future Temple, demonstrating how even from judgment, God orchestrates His plans for blessing and dwelling among His people.