1 Chronicles 21 22

1 Chronicles 21:22 kjv

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

1 Chronicles 21:22 nkjv

Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the LORD. You shall grant it to me at the full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people."

1 Chronicles 21:22 niv

David said to him, "Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price."

1 Chronicles 21:22 esv

And David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD ? give it to me at its full price ? that the plague may be averted from the people."

1 Chronicles 21:22 nlt

David said to Araunah, "Let me buy this threshing floor from you at its full price. Then I will build an altar to the LORD there, so that he will stop the plague."

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 22 Meaning

King David requests to purchase Ornan’s threshing floor to build an altar to the Lord. His stated purpose is that this act, an offering of sacrifice in a place consecrated through full payment, might cause the plague afflicting Israel to cease. The verse underscores David's understanding that divine judgment (the plague) required a specific, divinely appointed means of atonement—a sacrifice offered on an altar at a designated holy site, paid for in full and not received as a mere gift. This established the foundational ground for what would become the site of the first temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing proper consecration and the gravity of atonement for sin.

1 Chronicles 21 22 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the divine judgment of a plague falls upon Israel as a consequence of King David's unauthorized census, a sin stemming from pride and distrust in God. The Angel of the Lord is poised to destroy Jerusalem, but God relents. David, seeing the angel and overwhelmed with guilt, repents and pleads for God to punish him and his family rather than the innocent people. It is then that the prophet Gad instructs David to go up to the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite to build an altar to the Lord. David’s specific request in verse 22 emphasizes his commitment to proper protocol and respect for God’s holiness by insisting on purchasing the site at "full price" rather than accepting it as a gift. This act not only sought to stop the plague but also laid the groundwork for the future temple in Jerusalem, demonstrating God's choosing of this specific location for atonement and worship, historically also Mount Moriah (where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac).

1 Chronicles 21 22 Word analysis

• Then David said: Implies an immediate, determined response following prophetic instruction (1 Chr 21:18) and divine mercy.
• to Ornan: Ornan (אוֹרְנָן - Owrnan) is the Jebusite owner of the threshing floor. In the parallel account in 2 Samuel 24, he is called Araunah (אֲרַוְנָה - Arawenah). Both names refer to the same individual. The Chronicler emphasizes his willingness to give rather than sell, highlighting David’s steadfastness in paying.
• “Grant me: The Hebrew is נָתַתָּה (nathathah), meaning 'give,' 'grant,' or 'hand over.' David is asking for possession.
• the place of this threshing floor: Hebrew: מְקוֹם הַגֹּרֶן הַזֹּאת (m'qom haggoren hazzot). A "threshing floor" (גֹּרֶן - goren) was an open, elevated area, typically exposed to wind, used for threshing grain. Its elevated position was practical for winnowing but also symbolically apt for a place of sacrifice, perhaps suggesting separation from ordinary life. The elevated nature likely connects to a 'high place' tradition, though consecrated to YHWH. This specific place holds unique significance as it became the site of Solomon's Temple.
• that I may build an altar: Hebrew: לִבְנוֹת בּוֹ מִזְבֵּחַ (livnot bo mizbeach). An "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ - mizbeach) is a raised structure for sacrifices. Building one was a response to divine instruction, a means of appeasing divine wrath, and essential for offering atonement. This foreshadows the permanent altar in the Temple.
• in it to the LORD; Hebrew: לַיהוָה (laYHVH), referencing the personal, covenant God of Israel. Building to YHWH distinguishes it from altars built to other deities. The act acknowledges YHWH's sole sovereignty and power over the plague.
• you shall grant it to me: Repetition for emphasis, reinforcing David’s resolute intent to acquire the property, despite Ornan’s offer of a gift.
• for the full price: Hebrew: בְּמֶכֶר שָׁלֵם (b'meker shalem). "Full price" (מֶכֶר שָׁלֵם - meker shalem) signifies an honest, complete, and uncompromised purchase. David refused a free gift, as a sacrifice that "costs nothing" (2 Sam 24:24) would not properly represent atonement or consecration. A sacrifice given to God must come at a cost to the offeror. This highlights David's understanding of true worship and dedication, reflecting a polemic against practices of seeking favor without genuine personal sacrifice. It emphasizes the sacredness of the transaction and the act of worship.
• that the plague may be withdrawn from the people: Hebrew: וְתֵעָצֶר הַמַּגֵּפָה מֵעַל הָעָם (v'te'atzer hammaggefah me'al ha'am). "Plague" (מַגֵּפָה - maggefah) is the divine judgment that was destroying the people. The desired outcome is its cessation. This connects sacrifice directly to propitiation and God’s mercy.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Grant me...that I may build an altar...to the LORD": This phrase expresses David's petition driven by obedience to divine command (via Gad) and a clear intention to facilitate legitimate worship for the purpose of national restoration.
• "you shall grant it to me for the full price": This is a critical legal and theological declaration. It underlines David's adherence to the principle that a genuine offering to God must be costly and fully owned by the offeror, rather than given as a conditional gift. This demonstrates spiritual integrity and teaches about the nature of true devotion, setting a precedent for consecrated ground.
• "that the plague may be withdrawn from the people": This final clause clarifies the immediate, urgent purpose of the purchase and the subsequent sacrifice: to bring about the end of divine judgment. It emphasizes the tangible result of righteous acts of worship and the effectiveness of atonement when rightly offered according to God’s terms.

1 Chronicles 21 22 Bonus section

The threshing floor, often used for separating wheat from chaff, symbolizes a place of judgment and separation, fitting for an altar where sin (the "chaff") is dealt with and purification occurs. David's meticulous adherence to paying "full price" highlights an ancient Near Eastern legal and spiritual concept known as terra firma—the land must be truly and fully acquired for sacred purposes, representing total ownership and consecration. This ensures that the altar, and subsequently the Temple, truly belongs to the LORD through David's devoted and costly act. The event demonstrates God's immediate response to genuine repentance and atonement, signaling a foundational act in Jerusalem's spiritual history.

1 Chronicles 21 22 Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:22 reveals David's profound understanding of proper worship and atonement. His insistence on purchasing Ornan's threshing floor "for the full price" signifies a vital theological principle: a sacrifice offered to God for propitiation must involve personal cost and be made from what genuinely belongs to the offerer, not from a gracious donation from another (as per 2 Sam 24:24). This rejection of a free offering underscores the gravity of sin and the high price of true reconciliation with God. The location, identified as Mount Moriah in 2 Chronicles 3:1, connects this site to Abraham's sacrificial act, divinely designated for significant covenant moments and future worship, specifically the Temple. The immediate objective was the cessation of the plague, showcasing God's readiness to respond to acts of humility, obedience, and appropriate atonement, establishing a pattern for future deliverance and the sanctity of the chosen place for His dwelling.