1 Chronicles 29:9 kjv
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1 Chronicles 29:9 nkjv
Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:9 niv
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:9 esv
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:9 nlt
The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD, and King David was filled with joy.
1 Chronicles 29 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:2 | "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution...from every man whose heart moves him." | Willing offering for Tabernacle |
| Exod 35:21 | "And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whose spirit made him willing..." | Eagerness in giving to God |
| Exod 35:29 | "The people of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD..." | Freewill offering |
| Deut 15:10 | "You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give..." | Giving generously without reluctance |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | "...If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will abandon you." | Seeking God wholeheartedly |
| 1 Kgs 8:61 | "Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God..." | Wholly true/perfect heart to the LORD |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him..." | Blameless/perfect heart |
| Ps 32:11 | "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" | Rejoicing of the upright in heart |
| Ps 100:2 | "Serve the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing!" | Joyful service to the LORD |
| Ps 119:2 | "Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart..." | Wholehearted pursuit of God's word |
| Neh 8:10 | "for the joy of the LORD is your strength." | Joy in the LORD |
| Rom 12:8 | "the one who contributes, in generosity;" | Generous giving |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | Cheerful and uncompelled giving |
| Col 3:23 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men..." | Doing with a whole/perfect heart |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace...in order that in everything God may be glorified..." | Stewardship and giving for God's glory |
| Php 4:18 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | Offerings as pleasing sacrifices to God |
| Matt 6:21 | "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." | Connection between heart and giving |
| Acts 20:35 | "...It is more blessed to give than to receive." | Blessing of giving |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Sacrifices of sharing and doing good |
| 1 Tim 6:18 | "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share..." | Being generous and ready to share |
1 Chronicles 29 verses
1 Chronicles 29 9 Meaning
The people of Israel greatly rejoiced because their lavish offerings for the building of God's house were given freely, not under compulsion. Their joy was deeply rooted in the sincerity and wholeness of their hearts as they gave willingly to the LORD, mirroring the profound joy also experienced by King David. This verse encapsulates the spiritual delight derived from corporate, willing, and pure-hearted devotion and generosity towards God.
1 Chronicles 29 9 Context
This verse is nestled within David’s final public act of leadership before Solomon becomes king, specifically concerning the immense preparations for the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem. David has previously expressed his personal desire to build God a house and has already dedicated vast personal resources. In 1 Chronicles 29:1-8, he challenges the leaders and then the whole assembly to give willingly for this sacred task. Verse 9 then describes the immediate and overwhelming response of the people. This act of giving is not merely financial but is a deeply spiritual expression of national unity, devotion to God, and anticipation of His dwelling among them. The historical context highlights a period of national prosperity and spiritual zeal under David’s leadership, setting the stage for Solomon’s glorious reign and the construction of the Temple.
1 Chronicles 29 9 Word analysis
- Then the people: The immediate aftermath and consequence of David’s passionate challenge and his and the leaders' exemplary giving. "The people" (ʿam in Hebrew) signifies the whole assembly of Israel, underscoring collective action and unity in worship and giving.
- rejoiced: From the Hebrew verb samach (שָׂמַח), meaning to be joyful, glad, or delighted. This is not a superficial happiness but a deep, spiritual exultation. It signifies an inner response of approval and delight in what they were doing for God.
- for that they offered willingly: The primary reason for their joy. "Offered willingly" is from the Hebrew root nadab (נדב), often translated as freewill offering or voluntary contribution. It emphasizes unforced, spontaneous generosity motivated by the heart. This directly contrasts with reluctant or compulsory giving, highlighting the virtue of liberality and eager devotion.
- because with a perfect heart: Provides the deeper cause or quality of their willing offering and their rejoicing. "Perfect heart" is lev shalem (לֵב שָׁלֵם). Shalem implies completeness, soundness, sincerity, wholeness, and integrity. It speaks of a heart that is undivided in its loyalty and devotion to God, free from hypocrisy, ulterior motives, or reservation. It’s about purity of intention in their offering.
- they offered willingly: This is a repetition, an emphatic restatement of the act of giving. The repetition reinforces the genuineness and freeness of their offering, underscoring that their willing spirit was a direct outflow of their perfect heart. The double emphasis heightens the spiritual significance.
- to the LORD: Clearly states the recipient and purpose of the offering. Their giving was not for men's praise or self-glorification but directed solely toward YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. This establishes the act as worship.
- and David the king also rejoiced: Signifies communal joy that transcended all ranks, uniting the king and the people. David's joy validates and participates in the collective delight. As their spiritual leader, his shared joy adds solemnity and spiritual confirmation to the people’s act.
- with great joy: An intensifier. "Great" (gadol - גָּדֹל) emphasizes the magnitude and depth of David's joy, mirroring the widespread and profound joy of the people. It implies an overflowing, abundant gladness stemming from witnessing such an outpouring of devotion and the anticipation of God’s glory.
1 Chronicles 29 9 Bonus section
The concept of the "perfect heart" (lev shalem) is a recurring theme in Chronicles, especially regarding kings like David (1 Chr 29:9) and Asa (2 Chr 15:17), in contrast to kings like Amaziah (2 Chr 25:2) whose heart was "not wholly true." This focus highlights the Chronicler's emphasis on true, inner devotion as paramount for blessing and effective leadership. The communal aspect of joy in giving prefigures the New Testament principle that God loves a "cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7), connecting ancient Israelite worship practices to timeless principles of Christian liberality. The readiness to offer such vast resources also reflects a deep understanding of God's absolute sovereignty and ownership (as David expressed in 1 Chr 29:14 – "for all things come from you, and of your own have we given you"), recognizing that their offerings were merely returning a portion of what God had already provided.
1 Chronicles 29 9 Commentary
This verse encapsulates a profound theological truth about giving and worship: genuine devotion blossoms from a willing, pure heart, resulting in divine and communal joy. The people’s willing offering (rooted in the concept of a freewill offering, nadab) transcends mere compliance, revealing a deep affection and spiritual responsiveness to God’s call. Their perfect heart signifies integrity, wholeheartedness, and unreserved commitment, contrasting sharply with hypocritical or coerced piety. The repetition of "offered willingly" underlines the purity and authenticity of their giving, making it an acceptable "fragrant offering" to the LORD. The shared joy between the people and David signifies the unified spiritual atmosphere and God’s evident pleasure in their collective, generous response. This joy is not derived from the quantity of material given, but from the spiritual state in which it was given—a heart wholly devoted to the King of kings.