1 Chronicles 29:12 kjv
Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
1 Chronicles 29:12 nkjv
Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:12 niv
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:12 esv
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:12 nlt
Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
1 Chronicles 29 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ch 29:11 | "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory...for all that is in heaven and on earth is Yours." | Echoes the theme of God's universal ownership and greatness. |
| Dt 8:18 | "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth." | God is the direct source of the ability to gain wealth. |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | "The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up." | God's absolute control over economic status and societal standing. |
| Prov 22:4 | "The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life." | Connects divinely granted blessings to specific virtues. |
| Prov 3:16 | "Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor." | Wisdom, from God, leads to prosperity and esteem. |
| Job 12:10 | "In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." | God's absolute power extends over life itself, by extension over all resources. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another." | God alone grants promotion and status. |
| Ps 62:11 | "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God." | Reiteration of God's singular possession of power. |
| Ps 103:19 | "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all." | Direct statement of God's ultimate reign and sovereignty. |
| Ps 115:3 | "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." | God's freedom and absolute control to act as He wills. |
| Jer 27:5 | "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me." | God's creation and sovereign distribution of lands and authority. |
| Dan 2:20-21 | "He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings." | God's sovereign control over historical events and human leadership. |
| Dan 4:17 | "The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes." | Explicit declaration of divine authority over earthly rulers. |
| Isa 40:29 | "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." | God as the source of empowerment for the weak. |
| Mt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." | Christ's delegated divine authority, flowing from God's ultimate power. |
| Lk 1:52 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate." | Echoes God's ability to "make great" or humble. |
| Rom 13:1 | "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." | All forms of human authority derive their power from God. |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." | God provides abundantly for all needs, enabling generosity. |
| Eph 3:16 | "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." | Divine strength for internal transformation. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." | Acknowledges God as the ultimate source of strength and ability. |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." | All good things, including riches and honor, originate from God. |
1 Chronicles 29 verses
1 Chronicles 29 12 Meaning
This verse from David's prayer of thanksgiving is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and divine provision. It asserts that all wealth and prestige originate from God, Who possesses ultimate dominion over all things. Furthermore, it affirms that power and might are held within His hand, signifying His control over ability, success, and the elevation or empowerment of individuals. Essentially, God is the sole proprietor of all resources, authority, and capacity, and He sovereignly dispenses them according to His will.
1 Chronicles 29 12 Context
This verse is part of David's magnificent prayer of thanksgiving and praise (1 Ch 29:10-19) at the conclusion of his reign. It immediately follows the extraordinary generosity of the Israelite leaders and people who, spurred by David's example, made immense freewill offerings of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones for the building of the future Temple by Solomon. The preceding verses (29:6-9) detail this lavish contribution.
David's prayer, therefore, arises from a heart of deep gratitude and theological understanding. He doesn't attribute the people's ability to give, or his own accumulated wealth, to their inherent capacity or personal merit. Instead, he unequivocally directs all glory and the source of all prosperity, power, and honor back to God. He reminds himself and the people that everything they possess—even the desire and ability to give—comes from God. This prayer serves as a profound theological anchor, setting the foundation for Solomon's reign and the Temple project, ensuring that God, not human effort or earthly resources, is acknowledged as supreme. Historically, it combats any inclination towards self-sufficiency or polytheistic notions of success tied to other gods or fate.
1 Chronicles 29 12 Word Analysis
Both riches and honor (הָעֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבֹוד - hā‘ōsher wəhakkāḇôḏ):
- ’ōsher (עֹשֶׁר): Abundance, wealth, prosperity. Not merely material possessions but general flourishing.
- kavod (כָּבֹוד): Honor, glory, dignity, reputation, importance. It speaks to social standing and divine favor.
- Significance: David states these universally desired attributes are not accumulated by human ingenuity or labor alone, but are fundamentally divine provisions. This directly contrasts with contemporary pagan beliefs where wealth might be attributed to various deities or fate.
come from You (מִמֶּךָ - mimmeḵā):
- Significance: This emphatic declaration highlights God as the sole origin and ultimate source. There is no secondary cause or independent pathway to obtaining these things apart from His direct or indirect giving. It implies a total dependency on God.
and You reign over all (וְאַתָּה מֹוֹשֵׁל בַּכֹּל - wə’attâ môšēl bakōl):
- mōšēl (מֹוֹשֵׁל): To rule, to govern, to have dominion. Participle, indicating continuous action.
- bakōl (בַּכֹּל): In/over all, everything.
- Significance: This affirms God's universal sovereignty. There is no aspect of existence—be it material, social, political, or spiritual—over which God does not exercise absolute control. It supports the prior assertion that riches and honor come from Him, as He rules over their distribution.
In Your hand is power and might (וּבְיָדְךָ כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה - ûḇəyāḏḵā kōaḥ ûḡḇûrâ):
- yad (יָד): Hand. Anthropomorphism representing divine power, control, agency, and direction. It signifies active involvement.
- koach (כֹּחַ): Power, strength, ability, vigor.
- gevurah (גְּבוּרָה): Might, valor, strength, severe power. Often implies an overcoming strength or inherent force.
- Significance: The use of two terms for strength/power (koach and gevurah) emphasizes the completeness and multifaceted nature of God's might. The phrase "in Your hand" visually represents God's personal and immediate control over all forms of strength, ensuring that human capabilities or any natural forces are always subservient to His will.
and in Your hand it is to make great (וּבְיָדְךָ לְגַדֵּל - ûḇəyāḏḵā ləḡaddēl):
- ləḡaddēl (לְגַדֵּל): To make great, to magnify, to elevate, to cause to become prominent.
- Significance: A direct affirmation of God's prerogative to raise up individuals or nations. Human exaltation, fame, or promotion is not a result of chance or purely human endeavor, but a divine act. This reinforces the theme of God's sovereignty over destinies. The repetition of "in Your hand" serves as a powerful rhetorical emphasis on God's active involvement and control.
and to give strength to all (וּלְחַזֵּק לַכֹּל - ûləḥazzēq lakkōl):
- ləḥazzēq (לְחַזֵּק): To strengthen, to make strong, to empower, to give courage.
- lakkōl (לַכֹּל): To/for all, everyone.
- Significance: God is the one who empowers and enables not just a select few but "all"—referring to all who require or receive His strength, encompassing individuals, armies, or even nations. This speaks to God's continuous work of sustaining and empowering His creation. This completes the divine control spectrum, moving from external prosperity and honor to internal capability and enablement.
1 Chronicles 29 12 Bonus section
This verse provides a vital theological counter-narrative to secular notions of "self-made success" or attributing accomplishments solely to human ingenuity, hard work, or luck. David's prayer grounds all achievements in God's providence, fostering a mindset of stewardship rather than ownership. When "riches and honor come from You," the believer is compelled to ask how these divine blessings can be used for divine purposes. It transforms a potential source of pride into an occasion for profound humility and thanksgiving, prompting the recognition that even the ability to give (as seen in the preceding verses) is a gift from God. This holistic view of God's dominion should inspire believers to commit their entire lives and all their resources back to the One from whom they originated.
1 Chronicles 29 12 Commentary
1 Chronicles 29:12 is a powerful theological statement, forming the zenith of David's prayer of thanksgiving. It unequivocally asserts the absolute sovereignty of God over every sphere of existence—material prosperity, social standing, power, and ability. David's profound understanding that all "riches and honor" are divine provisions prevents any human boast or self-reliance. It clarifies that these are not earned by human merit or chance, but are granted by God's benevolent will. The repetition of "in Your hand" emphasizes God's active and personal control, indicating His intimate involvement in bestowing strength and elevating individuals. This verse teaches utter dependence on God, reminding believers that success, power, and status are gifts, intended to be stewarded for His glory, not ours. It stands as a profound call to humility, gratitude, and constant acknowledgment of God as the ultimate Source and Controller of all things.