1 Chronicles 29:1 kjv
Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 29:1 nkjv
Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 29:1 niv
Then King David said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 29:1 esv
And David the king said to all the assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 29:1 nlt
Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said, "My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals ? it is for the LORD God himself!
1 Chronicles 29 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chron 22:5 | David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced..." | David's prior assessment of Solomon. |
| 1 Chron 28:5-6 | "He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne...and I will be his God..." | God's direct choice of Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 3:7-9 | Solomon: "I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in." | Solomon's humility and confession of youth. |
| 2 Chron 1:7-12 | Solomon's prayer for wisdom due to his youth and the great responsibility. | Solomon receives wisdom for governance. |
| Jer 1:6 | Jeremiah said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." | Parallel to human inadequacy for divine calling. |
| Exod 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | Divine purpose of the Tabernacle/Temple. |
| Exod 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | God's manifest presence in His dwelling place. |
| 2 Sam 7:5-7 | "Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house since..." | God's independence from human-built structures. |
| 1 Kgs 8:27 | "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You..." | Solomon's understanding of God's transcendence. |
| Isa 66:1-2 | "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool...What kind of house would you build for me...?" | God's omnipresence over human construction. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says..." | Stephen echoing Isaiah about God's infinitude. |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? | Believers as the New Testament Temple. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "For we are the temple of the living God..." | Application of Temple theology to believers. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone..." | The Church as a spiritual temple. |
| John 4:23-24 | "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people..." | Worship shifts from physical temple to spiritual. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you..." | Principle of divine election for a special purpose. |
| Pss 33:12 | "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen..." | God's sovereign choice in blessing nations. |
| Phil 2:13 | "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." | God's empowerment for great tasks. |
| Heb 12:28-29 | "...let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." | Emphasizes proper worship for a holy God. |
| Matt 16:18 | "...on this rock I will build my church..." | Christ builds His Church, analogous to the Temple. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers as the building blocks of God's house. |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Divine assistance for monumental tasks. |
1 Chronicles 29 verses
1 Chronicles 29 1 Meaning
King David, addressing the entire gathered assembly, declares his son Solomon, God's chosen one, to be young and tender, yet acknowledges the immense magnitude of the task ahead—building the Temple. He emphatically clarifies that this Temple is not for human glory or purpose, but solely dedicated to and intended for the Lord God Himself, thereby emphasizing its divine purpose and ownership.
1 Chronicles 29 1 Context
1 Chronicles 29:1 appears near the culmination of David's reign, serving as his final public address and mandate to the gathered leaders of Israel regarding the building of the Temple. The preceding chapters (1 Chronicles 28) detail David's solemn charge to Solomon and the divine revelation of the Temple plans. Chapter 29 begins with David rallying the nation to contribute generously to this massive undertaking, setting a personal example of immense sacrifice. This specific verse emphasizes David's honesty about Solomon's age and experience while simultaneously grounding the entire project in God's sovereign election and, most crucially, in God's sole purpose and ownership. The Chronicler’s overarching goal is to present a unified Israel under a legitimate, God-chosen king, committed to pure worship, and this verse powerfully articulates the sacred nature and divine orientation of their central worship edifice.
1 Chronicles 29 1 Word analysis
- Furthermore, King David said: This transition indicates a continuation and amplification of his earlier charge (1 Chron 28). "King David" (דָּוִיד הַמֶּלֶךְ, David ha-melekh) reinforces his authority and the weight of his words as the departing monarch establishing succession and national purpose.
- to all the assembly,: (קָהָל, qahal) Refers to a divinely called or convened gathering, comprising all the key national leaders: princes, commanders, officers, mighty men, and administrators mentioned in 1 Chronicles 28:1. This makes the declaration public, legally binding, and unites the nation in witness and commitment to the task. It signifies corporate responsibility.
- 'My son Solomon,: (שְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי, Shlomo beni) An intimate but also official designation, acknowledging Solomon's legitimate succession and relationship to the revered king.
- whom alone God has chosen,: (בָּחַר, bakhar) This highlights divine sovereignty in the selection of a king, countering any potential claims of human merit or political maneuvering. It underlines God's initiation and legitimation of Solomon's rule, ensuring God's ultimate plan is recognized. This is foundational to the Chronicler's theology of legitimate kingship and pure worship.
- is young and inexperienced,: (נַעַר וָרָךְ, na'ar ve-rakh - lit. "young man" and "tender/weak").
- young: (נַעַר, na'ar) denotes youth, typically early adulthood, rather than a mere child, but emphasizing relative immaturity for such a monumental task.
- inexperienced: (רַךְ, rakh) carries the connotation of tender, soft, delicate, or lacking strength/firmness for a demanding role. This is a humble and realistic assessment by David, not a condemnation, but rather an indirect plea for God's provision and the assembly's support. It underscores that human ability is insufficient for divine projects, demanding reliance on God.
- and the work is great;: (מְלָאכָה, melakhah - work/task). This refers to the colossal nature of building the Temple. It requires immense resources, intricate craftsmanship, careful organization, and significant effort. The scale reinforces why a young, inexperienced leader needs supernatural aid.
- for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God.': This is the theological lynchpin of the verse and a key Chronicler theme.
- temple: (בַּיִת, bayit - literally "house") referring to God's "House."
- not for man: (לְאָדָם, le-adam) Emphasizes that the Temple's existence is not for human glory, power, political agenda, or even human convenience. It is not a monument to Solomon or David, nor a tool for human manipulation.
- but for the LORD God: (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהִים, la-YHWH Elohim) This is a powerful polemic against anthropocentric religious views. The ultimate purpose, dedication, and owner of the Temple is YHWH, the covenant-keeping God. Its function is to facilitate His presence, His worship, and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. It implies strict adherence to divine instructions for its construction and operation, as its primary audience is God Himself.
1 Chronicles 29 1 Bonus section
The Chronicler deliberately presents David in his full statesman-like wisdom at this juncture. His concern for the spiritual future of Israel, encapsulated in the building of the Temple, surpasses any dynastic pride. By framing Solomon's role and the Temple's purpose in explicitly theological terms ("whom alone God has chosen," "not for man, but for the LORD God"), David establishes a lasting theological foundation for future generations. This verse also serves as a pedagogical model for succession in spiritual leadership – acknowledging limitations, emphasizing divine choice, clarifying purpose, and rallying communal support under God's ultimate authority. The very public nature of this declaration to "all the assembly" underscores the corporate responsibility and shared ownership Israel had in the sacred project, even as its ultimate ownership rested with God.
1 Chronicles 29 1 Commentary
1 Chronicles 29:1 distills David's profound understanding of leadership, succession, and divine purpose. David, ever the wise and God-fearing king, publicly acknowledges the tender age and relative inexperience of Solomon, the one divinely chosen for the momentous task of building God's dwelling place. This frank admission does not undermine Solomon's legitimacy but rather sets the stage for God's indispensable role in empowering him. The "greatness" of the work highlights the human inadequacy for a divinely ordained enterprise, necessitating reliance on the Almighty. Most critically, David's concluding declaration—"for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God"—serves as a theological anchor. It removes all human boasting or self-serving motives from the Temple project, firmly establishing that its ultimate design, function, and ownership reside solely with God. This divine orientation means the project transcends human capabilities, demanding heavenly wisdom, guidance, and resources, which David models by his own sacrificial giving in the following verses. This understanding ensured that the subsequent dedication and use of the Temple would be in reverence to the One for whom it was built.
- Examples:
- Just as God chose a "young and inexperienced" Solomon for a great work, He often uses ordinary believers, empowering them with His Spirit to accomplish His plans, demonstrating that "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" (Zech 4:6).
- Recognizing that the "temple is not for man, but for the LORD God" means that all Christian service and worship, whether in personal lives or corporate gatherings, must be driven by God's glory and purposes, not human desires or praise.
- When feeling overwhelmed by a calling or ministry, like Solomon, we acknowledge our own inexperience but press forward in faith, knowing that the work is ultimately for the Lord and He will equip us.