1 Chronicles 21:23 kjv
And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
1 Chronicles 21:23 nkjv
But Ornan said to David, "Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all."
1 Chronicles 21:23 niv
Araunah said to David, "Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this."
1 Chronicles 21:23 esv
Then Ornan said to David, "Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all."
1 Chronicles 21:23 nlt
"Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish," Araunah said to David. "I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, and the threshing boards for wood to build a fire on the altar, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all to you."
1 Chronicles 21 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 24:24 | But the king said to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying... | David insists on paying, refusing a free gift for sacrifice. |
| Lev 1:3-4 | If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd... | Prescribes oxen for burnt offerings, requiring no blemish. |
| Lev 2:1 | When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord... | Details requirements for the grain (meal) offering. |
| Num 16:47-48 | Aaron took it... and stood between the living and the dead; and the plague stopped. | Priestly intercession with atonement stopping a plague. |
| Ex 12:13 | When I see the blood, I will pass over you. | Divine judgment passing over those protected by blood. |
| 2 Chr 3:1 | Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father... on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. | Identifies the threshing floor as the Temple site. |
| Gen 22:1-14 | Abraham... built an altar there and arranged the wood... on Mount Moriah. | Mount Moriah as the site of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. |
| Psa 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart... | True sacrifice is internal repentance and humility. |
| Mic 6:6-8 | He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God. | God's ultimate requirements beyond mere ritual sacrifice. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | NT principle of giving oneself entirely as worship. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment and more... a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. | Spiritual sacrifice in Christian giving. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | The necessity of blood sacrifice for atonement. |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | The limitations of animal sacrifice, pointing to Christ. |
| Gen 50:10-11 | They came to the threshing floor of Atad... there they lamented with a very loud and bitter cry. | Another threshing floor used as a site for solemn lamentation. |
| Judg 6:37 | If there is dew only on the fleece... | Gideon's sign on the threshing floor. |
| Ruth 3:2-7 | Indeed, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. | A threshing floor as a significant place of interaction and covenant. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | To obey is better than sacrifice. | Emphasizes that outward acts must stem from obedience. |
| Prov 11:25 | The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. | Principle of generosity and blessing. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Motivation for giving in the New Covenant. |
| Isa 66:1-2 | "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build for Me?... But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word." | God values a humble heart over grand structures. |
1 Chronicles 21 verses
1 Chronicles 21 23 Meaning
In 1 Chronicles 21:23, Ornan, the owner of the threshing floor, demonstrates remarkable generosity and deference to King David. As David seeks to build an altar and offer sacrifices to God to stop a plague, Ornan immediately offers to provide not only the site but also all the necessary components for the burnt offering and grain offering: the oxen, the wood (from threshing sledges), and the wheat. This offer reflects his understanding of the urgency and the importance of the king's request concerning worship to God.
1 Chronicles 21 23 Context
Chapter 21 of 1 Chronicles narrates David's sin of numbering Israel, which incurred God's wrath, resulting in a devastating plague. After David confesses his sin and humbles himself, the angel of the Lord, who was poised to destroy Jerusalem, stops at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. God instructs David through the prophet Gad to build an altar and offer sacrifices at this precise location to avert further judgment. Ornan's immediate response in verse 23 to David's request to purchase the threshing floor highlights his reverence for God and his respect for the king's authority during a national crisis. This act sets the stage for David's purchase and the establishment of a sacred site which later became the location for Solomon's Temple, emphasizing its holiness and divine choice as a place of atonement and worship.
1 Chronicles 21 23 Word analysis
- And Ornan: (
veha'Ornan, וְהָאוֹרְנָן) - This refers to Ornan, also known as Araunah in 2 Samuel 24. His name variations likely reflect scribal traditions. His generosity and status as a Jebusite who co-existed with the Israelites are notable, showing intergroup relations. - said to David: Highlights a direct verbal exchange between a common man (Ornan) and the king.
- "Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes.": (
qach lakh veya'as adoni haMelekh hatov be'eynav) - Ornan's words convey extreme deference and generosity. "Take it for yourself" (qach lakh) is a straightforward offer. "Let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes" signifies submission to David's authority and wisdom, allowing the king full discretion to act as he sees fit concerning the divine command. - "Look, I give": (
hineh natati, הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי) - The interjection "Look" or "Behold" (hineh) emphasizes the immediacy and sincerity of his offering. "I give" (natati) uses the perfect tense, implying a completed action, as if the gift is already theirs. - the oxen: (
habaqar, הַבָּקָר) - Specifically mentions the livestock needed. Oxen were the most substantial and costly animals for sacrifices, particularly for burnt offerings. - for burnt offerings: (
le'olot, לְעֹלוֹת) -'Olah(singular) is a whole burnt offering, completely consumed by fire upon the altar, signifying total dedication and atonement. Ornan is willing to provide the most significant part of the sacrifice. - and the threshing sledges: (
vehammoraggim, וְהַמֹּרִגִּים) - These were heavy wooden instruments with sharp stones or iron teeth, used to separate grain from chaff. Their material makes them suitable for fuel. - for wood: (
la'etzim, לָעֵצִים) - Directly implies their use as fuel for the sacrifice. Ornan is willing to dismantle his livelihood's tools for this purpose. - and the wheat: (
vehahittim, וְהַחִטִּים) - The grain itself, another vital component. - for the grain offering;: (
leminchah, לְמִנְחָה) -Minchah(grain offering) was often an accompanying offering with the burnt offering or offered independently as an act of devotion or thanksgiving. It symbolized God's provision and the worshiper's acknowledgment. - "I give it all.": (
hakkol natati, הַכֹּל נָתַתִּי) - This phrase concludes Ornan's generous offer, signifying completeness. He holds nothing back, providing all the required elements for David's sacrifice.
Words-group analysis:
- "Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes.": This phrasing emphasizes Ornan's trust and submission to David's authority, indicating a willingness for the King to take what is needed for God's purposes. It underscores David's spiritual authority in this moment.
- "Look, I give the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.": This is a powerful declaration of complete and willing provision. Ornan doesn't just offer the land; he preemptively offers all the resources required for the ritual, demonstrating an intuitive understanding of David's divine mandate and the severity of the situation. It highlights an exemplary attitude of selfless giving for God's work.
1 Chronicles 21 23 Bonus section
The threshing floor of Ornan holds immense prophetic and spiritual significance beyond its immediate context. It is repeatedly identified with Mount Moriah (2 Chr 3:1), the same mountain where Abraham offered Isaac (Gen 22:1-14). This continuity of sacred space implies a divine intention and a recurring theme of sacrifice and divine intervention. From being a site of agricultural labor and then judgment, it transforms into the foundational place for God's dwelling among His people – the Temple Mount. This suggests that the places where God's judgment is manifest and repentance occurs are often divinely chosen for His presence to reside. The voluntary and complete offer by Ornan, while ultimately superseded by David's insistence on a costly sacrifice, provides a beautiful image of a heart open to generously facilitate divine purposes.
1 Chronicles 21 23 Commentary
1 Chronicles 21:23 portrays Ornan's exceptional generosity in response to King David's desperate need for an altar to appease God's wrath. Ornan's offer of not only the location (the threshing floor) but also the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering, signifies a holistic and immediate provision for divine worship. This selflessness highlights a core principle in service to God: being prepared to give completely what is needed. Although David ultimately refused to accept it as a gift, insisting on purchasing it for a full price (v. 24) to ensure that his sacrifice genuinely "cost him something," Ornan's willingness models an ideal of wholehearted contribution. This particular threshing floor gains profound significance as it becomes the sacred site chosen by God for the Temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing that where God halts judgment, a place of dwelling and worship will be established.