1 Chronicles 29:27 kjv
And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29:27 nkjv
And the period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29:27 niv
He ruled over Israel forty years?seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29:27 esv
The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29:27 nlt
He reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 29 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 5:4-5 | David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years... seven years and six months... thirty-three years... | Parallel account of David's reign duration & places. |
| 1 Ki 2:11 | The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years: seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. | Identical summary in Kings, affirming the account. |
| 1 Sam 16:13 | Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. | David's divine appointment and anointing as king. |
| 2 Sam 2:4 | And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. | David's initial reign only over Judah in Hebron. |
| 2 Sam 5:6-9 | And the king and his men went to Jerusalem... So David took the stronghold of Zion... called it the City of David. | David conquering Jerusalem and making it capital. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. | God's eternal covenant with David's lineage. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever...'" | Reinforces the enduring Davidic covenant. |
| 1 Chr 11:4-9 | And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem... and David dwelt in the stronghold... So David reigned over all Israel. | Parallel account of capturing Jerusalem. |
| 1 Chr 12:38 | All these, men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. | United Israel making David king in Hebron. |
| 1 Chr 29:26 | So David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. | Immediate preceding verse affirming his widespread rule. |
| 1 Chr 29:28 | He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor. | Concluding statement on David's complete life and reign. |
| Neh 12:45 | They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as also the singers and gatekeepers, according to the command of David. | Post-exilic recognition of David's ordinances for worship. |
| Is 9:7 | Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom. | Prophecy of the everlasting nature of David's throne, pointing to Messiah. |
| Jer 33:17 | For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.' | Assurance of a continuous line of Davidic rulers. |
| Ezek 37:24 | "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd." | Prophecy of a future unified Israel under a Davidic king. |
| Amos 9:11 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen..." | Prophecy of restoring the Davidic kingdom. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David... | Emphasizes Jesus' direct descent from King David. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David... | Angelic prophecy confirming Jesus as eternal King from David's line. |
| Acts 2:29-30 | "Brothers, I may confidently say to you that the patriarch David died... being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath..." | Peter connects David's kingship and resurrection to Christ's fulfillment. |
| Rom 1:3 | concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh... | Paul affirms Jesus' Davidic lineage, key for Messiah. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David..." | Jesus' self-declaration as the promised Davidic King. |
1 Chronicles 29 verses
1 Chronicles 29 27 Meaning
First Chronicles 29:27 concisely concludes the account of King David's reign, stating its total duration and the specific periods spent ruling from Hebron and Jerusalem. This verse serves as a historical summary, emphasizing the completeness of David's God-ordained period as king over all Israel. It marks a pivotal transition, celebrating David's foundational work in unifying the tribes, establishing Jerusalem as the spiritual and political capital, and preparing for the building of the Temple by his son, Solomon. The numerical precision underscores the divine order and fulfillment of David's mission as recorded by the chronicler.
1 Chronicles 29 27 Context
This verse is situated at the conclusion of 1 Chronicles 29, which itself marks the end of David's life and reign. The preceding verses recount David's fervent prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God, his exhortation to Solomon, and the people's renewed commitment and sacrifices for the Lord, culminating in Solomon's enthronement. Historically, David's reign (c. 1010-970 BC) followed the tumultuous period of the judges and Saul's failed monarchy. He unified the scattered tribes of Israel, established Jerusalem as a central capital (both politically and spiritually by bringing the Ark there), and expanded the kingdom's borders. For the post-exilic audience of Chronicles, this precise historical summary of David's long and successful reign served as a comforting reminder of God's faithfulness and a hopeful blueprint for the ideal king, highlighting the foundation laid for the unified kingdom and the Temple. It emphasized stability, divine appointment, and the legitimacy of David's line.
1 Chronicles 29 27 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew waw connective. Links this summary statement to the preceding narrative of David's final acts and his prayer, indicating the conclusion of his reign described in the immediate context.
- the time: Hebrew "יָמִים" (yamim). Literally "days," but contextually refers to the span of his years, indicating the complete duration of his rule. It highlights the full period allotted by God.
- that he reigned: Hebrew "מָלַךְ" (malak). The verb "to reign," signifying David's full authority and active kingship over God's people. This verb is central to the narrative of kingship throughout the Hebrew Bible.
- over Israel: Hebrew "עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל" (al-Yisra'el). Crucially, "Israel" here refers to the unified twelve tribes, representing God's entire covenant people. The Chronicler frequently emphasizes the ideal of a united Israel under a God-fearing king, contrasting with the later divided kingdom. David successfully ruled this unified entity.
- was forty years: Hebrew "אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה" (arba'im shana). The number 40 in biblical contexts often denotes a complete, significant period of testing, preparation, or a generation. Here, it marks a divinely full and comprehensive reign, often seen as an ideal duration for a biblical leader's tenure. This length also symbolizes a long, stable, and prosperous period.
- seven years reigned he in Hebron: This specifies the initial phase of David's kingship, where he reigned solely over the tribe of Judah (and possibly Simeon) from Hebron. Hebron (meaning "association" or "confederacy") was an ancient city, significant for its patriarchal associations (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob buried there) and its tribal prominence. This period represents his establishing power base and consolidating authority among his own people.
- and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem: This marks the longer, more expansive phase of his reign, after he captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his new, neutral capital, later known as the "City of David." This transition was key to unifying all Israel, as Jerusalem did not belong to any specific tribe and served as a central administrative and religious hub. The total of 7+33 = 40 years shows a meticulously kept historical record.
1 Chronicles 29 27 Bonus section
The meticulous recording of reign lengths, as seen in this verse and throughout Chronicles and Kings, reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of annalistic record-keeping, often connected to divine mandate. It demonstrates the Chronicler's intent to provide a structured, reliable history for the post-exilic community. David's full 40-year reign stands as a model, often contrasted with shorter, tumultuous reigns of subsequent kings, which were frequently indicators of God's displeasure. This perfect duration suggests divine blessing and a completed task, leaving behind a kingdom prepared for its next phase of development under Solomon. The two phases of David's reign (Hebron and Jerusalem) illustrate the progression from a tribal leader to the unifying monarch of a burgeoning empire.
1 Chronicles 29 27 Commentary
1 Chronicles 29:27 provides a precise chronological summary of King David's reign, marking the culmination of his impactful life and divine commission. The verse succinctly underscores David's total reign of 40 years, carefully dividing it between Hebron and Jerusalem. This dual duration highlights his gradual but ultimately complete ascension to king over all Israel, symbolizing the successful unification of the tribes under one divinely appointed ruler. For the Chronicler's audience, this summary was more than mere historical fact; it solidified David's legitimacy and confirmed the stability he brought to the nation, especially important for those looking back after the exile. It also implicitly highlights God's faithfulness in upholding the Davidic covenant and ensuring a long, fruitful reign for the "man after God's own heart," despite personal failings. It transitions the narrative from David's direct rule to Solomon's inheritance and the continuation of the kingdom and Temple plans.