1 Chronicles 21:9 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
1 Chronicles 21:9 nkjv
Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
1 Chronicles 21:9 niv
The LORD said to Gad, David's seer,
1 Chronicles 21:9 esv
And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
1 Chronicles 21:9 nlt
Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer. This was the message:
1 Chronicles 21 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 24:11 | When David rose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to Gad, David’s seer... | Parallel account: God's word to Gad. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. | God speaks through prophets. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son. | God's historical pattern of speaking via prophets. |
| Num 12:6-8 | If there is a prophet among you... I the LORD will make Myself known... not so with My servant Moses, who is faithful... I speak with him mouth to mouth. | Modes of divine communication to prophets. |
| Jer 26:5 | to listen to the words of My servants the prophets... | Call to obey words from God's prophets. |
| Isa 6:8 | Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" | God seeking a messenger to speak His word. |
| Gen 15:1 | The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision... | Early example of God's word coming to an individual. |
| 1 Sam 22:5 | But Gad the prophet said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold; depart..." | Gad already serving as David's prophet/advisor. |
| 1 Chr 29:29 | Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of Samuel the seer, and in the records of Nathan the prophet, and in the records of Gad the seer. | Gad as a credible historical chronicler/seer. |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is called a prophet today was formerly called a seer.) | Explains the term 'seer' and its relation to 'prophet'. |
| 2 Kin 17:13 | Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer... | God consistently used prophets and seers to warn His people. |
| 2 Chr 29:25 | For the command of the LORD was through His prophets. | God's directives come through His chosen prophets. |
| 2 Sam 24:10 | Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly..." | David's immediate confession after realizing his sin, prior to God's response via Gad. |
| Psa 51:1-4 | Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness... For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned... | David's deeper repentance, showing humility before God's message. |
| Pro 28:13 | One who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but one who confesses and abandons them will obtain compassion. | Principle: confession precedes God's mercy and response. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. | New Covenant promise tied to confession. |
| Jer 18:7-8 | At one moment I might speak concerning a nation... that I will pluck up... But if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent... | God's prerogative to relent from threatened judgment upon repentance. |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray... then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. | Conditional promise tied to repentance and humility. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who is it who speaks, and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? From the mouth of the Most High both good and ill proceed? | God's sovereignty over all outcomes. |
| Rom 9:15 | For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." | God's sovereign choice in expressing mercy. |
| Eph 1:11 | In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will... | God's sovereignty, working His will through all circumstances. |
| Isa 55:11 | So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty... | The divine word, once spoken, will achieve its intended purpose. |
1 Chronicles 21 verses
1 Chronicles 21 9 Meaning
1 Chronicles 21:9 indicates a pivotal moment where divine communication directly intervenes after David's unauthorized census. Following David's heartfelt confession of sin, the LORD initiates contact by addressing Gad, who served as King David's appointed seer or prophet. This verse sets the stage for God's impending announcement of judgment and the subsequent path to atonement, emphasizing God's continued involvement in the affairs of His people and the designated role of prophets as His messengers.
1 Chronicles 21 9 Context
First Chronicles chapter 21 opens with an instigation from "Satan" for David to number Israel, an act viewed as a display of self-reliance and pride rather than trust in God. Despite Joab's caution, David proceeded with the census. The immediately preceding verses (1 Chr 21:7-8) state that this act displeased God, and He struck Israel, prompting David to confess his great sin to the LORD. Verse 9 then marks God's direct and authoritative response to David's confession. Historically, this event falls within David's reign as king, highlighting the critical role of prophets in ancient Israel as direct channels of God's communication to both the king and the people. A "seer" was one who received visions or divine messages, acting as an authoritative interpreter of God's will and purpose for the nation. This was a critical function, demonstrating that even a king as righteous as David was subject to divine authority and guidance, which often came through the prophetic office.
1 Chronicles 21 9 Word analysis
- Then (וַיְדַבֵּר, vayə·ḏab·bêr): The opening conjunction indicates a direct, immediate sequence following David's confession in the previous verse. It emphasizes God's swift response, not leaving His repentant servant in uncertainty, but moving to communicate His will for judgment and reconciliation.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is God's personal covenant name, often transliterated as Yahweh. Its use signifies not just an anonymous deity but the God who maintains a personal, covenantal relationship with Israel and its king, David. Despite David's sin, YHWH remains faithful to His covenant responsibilities, acting as sovereign over His people.
- spoke (דַּבֵּר, dibber): The verb is in the Piel stem, signifying an intensive or direct form of speaking. It suggests God communicated clearly and decisively, not just muttering, but articulating His message with intention and authority. This specific type of divine utterance often precedes significant actions or decrees.
- to Gad (אֶל־גָּד, ’el-gāḏ): This identifies the direct recipient of God's word. Gad was a well-known prophet during David's reign, earlier advising David to return to Judah (1 Sam 22:5). His selection highlights the established protocol of divine communication through a chosen mediator.
- David’s (דָוִיד, dāwîḏ): This possessive emphasizes the personal relationship and connection between the king and his seer. Gad was not a detached oracle but specifically served King David, signifying that the message pertained directly to the king's actions and the kingdom under his rule.
- seer (חֹזֵה, ḥōzêh): The Hebrew term ḥōzêh means "seer" or "visionary." It points to one who perceives divine revelation, often through visions or prophetic insight. In ancient Israel, "seer" was an older term for what later became commonly known as a "prophet" (1 Sam 9:9), denoting an individual empowered by God to receive and declare His messages to the people or king.
- saying (לֵאמֹר, lē’mōr): This is a common Hebrew idiomatic expression that introduces direct speech. It serves as a narrative marker indicating that the words immediately following are the exact divine message that Gad is commanded to convey.
1 Chronicles 21 9 Bonus section
The parallel account in 2 Samuel 24:11 presents almost identical wording for this verse, underscoring its theological significance and consistent portrayal across the historical narratives. The role of Gad as "David's seer" highlights the king-prophet dynamic essential to covenantal obedience; the king, though divinely chosen, remained under the ultimate authority of God, whose will was frequently revealed through His prophets. This system prevented an absolute monarchy and fostered accountability to divine commands. The divine initiative in sending a word of judgment, even after repentance, indicates that while forgiveness is immediate upon confession, the consequences of sin may still require action or correction. This separation of immediate pardon from ongoing repercussions reinforces the seriousness of sin while still pointing to God's eventual provision for restoration and atonement.
1 Chronicles 21 9 Commentary
1 Chronicles 21:9 serves as a crucial turning point, revealing God's character and the operational nature of His kingdom. It demonstrates God's immediate response to genuine repentance. Despite David's grave sin of numbering Israel, which led to divine judgment, God does not abandon him but instead initiates dialogue. The choice of Gad, David's trusted seer, as the messenger, underscores the ongoing and essential role of prophecy in governing Israel under the Old Covenant. This verse also implicitly asserts God's sovereignty over all human affairs, even those marked by disobedience. His word, once spoken, initiates a sequence of events, ensuring His purpose will be carried out. It illustrates that God is actively involved, both in judgment for sin and in guiding His people towards reconciliation, even utilizing intermediaries to communicate His decrees and path forward.