1 Chronicles 21 7

1 Chronicles 21:7 kjv

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:7 nkjv

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:7 niv

This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:7 esv

But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:7 nlt

God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it.

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 7 Meaning

The verse states that God perceived David's act of taking a census as something evil or displeasing in His sight. Consequently, because of this displeasing act, God brought a judgment, specifically a devastating plague or calamity, upon the nation of Israel. It directly connects David's sin to the divine retribution exacted upon the people.

1 Chronicles 21 7 Context

This verse is situated within a critical narrative in 1 Chronicles chapter 21, which recounts David's unauthorized census of Israel. David, perhaps influenced by pride in his kingdom's military strength or a desire to rely on numbers rather than God, commands Joab to count the fighting men. Joab, discerning the impropriety of the act, initially objects, warning David of the potential for guilt, but David persists. The verse specifically marks the point where divine displeasure and judgment follow David's disobedience. Historically, the Chronicler emphasizes the direct relationship between Israel's obedience (especially their king's) and God's blessings, and conversely, disobedience leading to immediate judgment. This account serves as a theological lesson: reliance on human power and resources, particularly out of pride or distrust in God, incurs divine wrath. The plague's cessation occurs only after David's sincere repentance, God's instruction to build an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan (later the site of the temple), and the offering of sacrifices, underscoring the necessity of atonement for sin and obedience to God's specific commands.

1 Chronicles 21 7 Word analysis

• And (וַ - `wa`): A simple conjunction, connecting the preceding action (David's census) to God's reaction and subsequent judgment. It signifies a direct causal link.
• God (הָאֱלֹהִים - `ha-Elohim`): The definite article ("the") before `Elohim` (God) emphasizes the singular, sovereign, and covenant God of Israel. This designation highlights His supreme authority and omnipotence as the ultimate judge and arbiter of justice. It is the active, personal God who takes action.
• was displeased (וַיֵּרַע - `vayyera`): Derived from the Hebrew root רָעַע (`ra'a`), meaning "to be evil, bad, displeasing, distressing." When used in relation to God, it indicates divine disapproval, anger, or viewing something as morally corrupt or offensive. It's a strong expression of God's rejection of David's act, implying His moral standards were violated.
• with this thing (עַל־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה - `al-ha-davar ha-zeh`): Literally "upon this word/matter/thing." "This thing" explicitly refers to David's census. The problem was not the counting in itself, as other biblical censuses were divinely commanded (e.g., Num 1, 26). The sin lay in David's motive—pride, a lack of faith, or relying on his military might instead of God's power and protection.
• therefore He struck (וַיַּךְ - `vayyak`): This phrase functions as a direct consequence. The Hebrew `vayyak` (and He struck) is from the root נָכָה (`nakah`), meaning "to strike, smite, afflict, beat, wound." This verb describes a direct, forceful, and punitive action by God, specifically manifesting as a plague or pestilence, causing widespread death. It highlights God's active involvement in enacting judgment for sin.
• Israel (אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל - `et-Yisra'el`): Refers to the people of the covenant nation. The judgment fell upon the whole nation, illustrating the principle of corporate responsibility, where the sin of a leader (especially a king, who represents the nation) could lead to consequences for the entire community. This underscores the solidarity of the covenant people before God.

• God was displeased with this thing: This phrase powerfully conveys divine judgment against human disobedience. It emphasizes God's perfect moral character and His active awareness of human actions and their underlying intentions. It signifies that God is not indifferent to the deeds of humanity, especially those of His chosen king, and that He evaluates them according to His holy standards.
• therefore He struck Israel: This highlights the direct, inevitable consequence of sin against God, particularly when committed by those in positions of leadership within the covenant community. It illustrates God's justice and His power to execute judgment. The impact on the entire nation emphasizes the concept of corporate solidarity and shared responsibility within the covenant, where the king's sin brought widespread suffering.

1 Chronicles 21 7 Bonus section

• Parallelism and Difference with 2 Samuel 24: While 2 Samuel 24 states that the Lord "incited" David to take the census, 1 Chronicles 21 attributes the incitement to "Satan." This difference in narrative perspective reveals the Chronicler's theological emphasis: attributing direct temptation to an external evil force rather than directly to God. However, both accounts affirm that God’s holy purpose allowed the testing, and He retained full sovereignty over the unfolding events, responding in righteous judgment to David’s proud heart regardless of the ultimate instigator.
• The Census as a Manifestation of Distrust: In ancient Israel, a census could be taken for military purposes, which implied relying on the strength of arms rather than fully trusting in God's miraculous intervention and protection (as seen in earlier biblical battles). Additionally, Exodus 30:12 indicates that when a census was taken, an atonement tax (a half-shekel) was required to avoid a plague, which suggests David might have either ignored this divine instruction or failed to offer the necessary atonement for the count, revealing a lack of reverence for the prescribed method of dealing with the populace before God.
• Corporate Responsibility and Divine Justice: The concept of the people suffering for the leader's sin is crucial. While it may seem unjust by modern individualistic standards, biblical theology often portrays the nation as a corporate entity. The king, as the covenant head, represented the people, and his actions (especially in sin) could lead to communal consequences. This underlines the profound ripple effect of leadership and the call for intercession and repentance on behalf of the nation.

1 Chronicles 21 7 Commentary

First Chronicles 21:7 presents a stark illustration of God's holy character and His unyielding response to sin, particularly pride and disobedience stemming from a lack of trust. David's census, while outwardly a benign administrative act, was fundamentally displeasing to God because it emanated from a heart that sought to rely on human strength and numbers rather than divine provision and protection. The verse reveals God's direct and immediate judgment; He "was displeased" (a reflection of moral outrage) and consequently "struck Israel." This act of striking (a plague) was not arbitrary but a just retribution, showcasing God's sovereignty over the affairs of nations and His direct intervention in human history. The corporate punishment of Israel highlights how the sins of leaders can bring devastating consequences upon the entire community they represent, reinforcing the biblical principle of solidarity within the covenant people. Ultimately, this narrative sets the stage for David's repentance and the divine selection of the threshing floor of Ornan as the future site for the temple, a place of atonement and worship, demonstrating that God's judgment, while severe, ultimately leads to a path of reconciliation and restoration through humble submission.