1 Chronicles 29:19 kjv
And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
1 Chronicles 29:19 nkjv
And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision."
1 Chronicles 29:19 niv
And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
1 Chronicles 29:19 esv
Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision."
1 Chronicles 29:19 nlt
Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations."
1 Chronicles 29 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 8:61 | "Let your heart therefore be whole with the LORD..." | Solomon exhorted to a "whole heart" |
| Dt 18:13 | "Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God." | Command to be perfect/blameless before God |
| Ps 101:2 | "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." | David's commitment to integrity |
| Mt 5:48 | "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." | Call to spiritual perfection/maturity |
| Jas 1:4 | "...that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." | Patience leading to spiritual completeness |
| Eph 4:13 | "...unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." | Growth towards Christ-like perfection |
| Col 1:28 | "...that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." | Goal of ministry: spiritual maturity |
| Dt 6:5 | "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart..." | Foundational command for wholehearted devotion |
| Jer 24:7 | "And I will give them an heart to know me..." | God promises a heart to know Him |
| Eze 36:26-27 | "A new heart also will I give you...and cause you to walk in my statutes..." | God grants a new heart for obedience |
| Phil 2:13 | "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do..." | God works both the desire and the action |
| Dt 30:6 | "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart..." | God prepares the heart for obedience |
| Ps 119:2 | "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." | Blessing on those with whole hearts keeping laws |
| Jos 1:7-8 | "Only be thou strong...to observe to do according to all the law..." | Joshua's instruction to keep and do the law |
| Jn 14:15 | "If ye love me, keep my commandments." | Love demonstrated through obedience |
| 1 Ki 11:4 | "...his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." | Solomon's later failure regarding a "perfect heart" |
| Neh 9:8 | "...and foundest his heart faithful before thee..." | God finding faithfulness in the heart |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | "...he shall build an house for my name..." | God's promise about Solomon building the Temple |
| 1 Ch 17:11-12 | "...he shall build me an house..." | Parallel account of God's promise |
| 1 Ki 3:9-12 | "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart..." | Solomon's prayer for discerning heart |
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." | Wisdom begins with reverent devotion to God |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD giveth wisdom..." | God is the source of wisdom |
| Prov 16:1 | "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD." | God's sovereignty over the heart's intentions |
1 Chronicles 29 verses
1 Chronicles 29 19 Meaning
In 1 Chronicles 29:19, David, at the culmination of his life and extensive preparations for the Temple, offers a fervent prayer to God concerning his son Solomon. The core of his plea is for God to grant Solomon "a perfect heart." This refers to an undivided, sincere, and resolute devotion to God, crucial for fulfilling his divine assignment. This "perfect heart" is explicitly linked to its practical outcomes: Solomon's obedience to God's commandments, testimonies, and statutes, demonstrating an active and comprehensive adherence to divine law. The ultimate purpose articulated is for Solomon to "do all these things" – live obediently – and specifically to "build the palace" (the Temple), for which David had painstakingly made ample provision. It is a prayer for spiritual integrity leading to faithful action in carrying out God's will and purpose for Israel.
1 Chronicles 29 19 Context
1 Chronicles 29:19 is part of David's prayer to God, offered before the assembly of Israel, following his declaration of the vast preparations made for the Temple. The preceding verses (1 Ch 29:10-18) detail David's worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty, power, wealth, and the fact that all they possessed came from God. He has gathered immense resources and offered lavishly from his own treasures, demonstrating his full commitment. Now, in verse 19, he pivots to the critical spiritual aspect for Solomon, his successor. Having secured the material provision and a united front from the people for the Temple, David understands that the actual building and completion rests on Solomon's spiritual state and obedience. He knows the Temple is only truly valuable if God's appointed builder has a heart wholly devoted to Him, ensuring not just the physical structure but the spiritual integrity it represents. The historical context is the period just before David's death, at a pivotal transition of leadership for the burgeoning Israelite monarchy, with the central task of building a permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant looming.
1 Chronicles 29 19 Word analysis
- and give: A petition, recognizing God as the sole Giver. David cannot simply impart this to Solomon; it must come from God. It emphasizes divine grace and enablement for spiritual disposition.
- unto Solomon my son: David’s deeply personal and fatherly concern. This isn't just a national concern but a parental plea for his successor.
- a perfect heart:
- Hebrew:
lēv shālēm(לֵב שָׁלֵם). lēv(לב): Refers to the inner person, including intellect, will, emotions, and moral character; the core of one's being. It's the seat of thought, affection, and volition.shālēm(שלם): Signifies wholeness, completeness, integrity, soundness, sincerity, devotion without division or ulterior motive. It does not imply sinless perfection, but rather undivided allegiance to God, in contrast to a wavering or idolatrous heart.- Significance: This is paramount. A truly "perfect" heart is one wholly committed to God, avoiding syncretism or seeking other gods, essential for faithful leadership.
- Hebrew:
- to keep: Indicates the active performance and careful guarding of the precepts. It's not passive acknowledgment but diligent adherence.
- thy commandments: Hebrew:
miṣvōṯ(מִצְוֺת). General instructions, laws given by divine authority, moral precepts. - thy testimonies: Hebrew:
ʿēdōṯ(עֵדֹת). Divine stipulations, often relating to specific covenant requirements or foundational truths. They are witnesses to God's character and will. - and thy statutes: Hebrew:
ḥuqqīm(חֻקִּים). Fixed ordinances, decrees, or regulations, often ritualistic or ceremonial, established as binding law. This triad emphasizes comprehensive obedience to all aspects of God's revealed will. - and to do all these things: Reinforces the practical execution of God's will. Obedience must translate into action, not just internal disposition or knowledge.
- and to build: The active commission and primary responsibility given to Solomon. This verb implies dedicated labor and successful completion.
- the palace: Hebrew:
hab-bayiṯ(הַבַּיִת), meaning "the house." Here, specifically "the house of the LORD" or the Temple. Often described as God's dwelling place, fittingly referred to as a King's "palace." - for the which I have made provision: David explicitly connects Solomon's future work to his own exhaustive preparatory efforts. He has laid the material groundwork; now Solomon needs the spiritual disposition to finish it.
1 Chronicles 29 19 Bonus section
The Hebrew word shalem (perfect/whole) is rich with theological significance beyond its meaning in 1 Chronicles 29:19. It's related to shalom, meaning peace, wholeness, well-being. A "perfect heart" thus implies inner peace and integrity, rooted in a right relationship with God, leading to holistic well-being for the individual and for the nation through their leadership.
The request for a perfect heart for Solomon is also implicitly a polemic against the instability and apostasy that plagued many ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, where kings often derived their legitimacy from varied, sometimes syncretistic, religious practices. David's prayer asserts that Solomon's true stability and legitimacy would come from his singular devotion to YHWH, the God of Israel. It emphasizes ethical and spiritual leadership over sheer political or military might, establishing a divine standard for kingship in Israel.
1 Chronicles 29 19 Commentary
David's prayer for Solomon in 1 Chronicles 29:19 is a profound articulation of what truly matters in spiritual leadership and the completion of divine work. While David had meticulously prepared all the material resources for the Temple, he understood that mere provision was insufficient. The actual building, and more importantly, its spiritual significance, hinged on Solomon possessing "a perfect heart." This wasn't a wish for a flawless personality, but for single-minded devotion to God, free from divided loyalties or idolatry. This kind of heart would naturally lead to comprehensive obedience to God's entire law—commandments, testimonies, and statutes—translating belief into diligent action.
The verse highlights that God's work requires not only human effort and material resources (which David supplied in abundance) but fundamentally a spiritual disposition from those commissioned to carry it out. Solomon's success in building the Temple and leading Israel depended first on his heart being right with God. The tragic irony, which the chronicler would later reveal, is that while Solomon did build the magnificent Temple, his heart ultimately did not remain perfect (1 Ki 11:4). This underscores that while a "perfect heart" is prayed for and given by God's grace, its maintenance requires continued vigilance, humility, and choice. David's prayer serves as a timeless reminder that faithful service springs from a heart completely surrendered to God.
For practical usage, this verse teaches:
- Prioritize the spiritual: Effective ministry and life involve inward surrender before outward action.
- Pray for pure hearts: Both for oneself and for leaders, praying for undivided devotion to God is crucial.
- Obedience is key: A perfect heart expresses itself in consistent, comprehensive obedience to God's Word.