King James Version

What Does 1 Chronicles 29:20 Mean?

1 Chronicles 29:20 in the King James Version says “And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of th... — study this verse from 1 Chronicles chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

1 Chronicles 29:20 · KJV


Context

18

O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: prepare: or, stablish

19

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.

20

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

21

And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:

22

And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The assembly's response to David's prayer: 'And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.' This describes corporate worship - blessing God (barakh - to kneel/bless), bowing, and worshiping. The sequence shows proper worship: responding to God's character (blessing), humbling (bowing), and adoring (worshiping). Worshiping both LORD and king demonstrates the relationship between divine and human authority - honoring God-appointed leaders flows from honoring God. This anticipates the church's worship of Christ the King while respecting earthly authorities.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This corporate worship (c. 971 BCE) climaxed the assembly dedicating temple resources. The unified response - all congregation participating - demonstrated covenant community's heart alignment. True revival produces corporate worship, not merely individual piety.

Reflection Questions

  1. How actively do you participate in corporate worship - are you a spectator or engaged worshiper?
  2. What does it look like to properly honor both God and God-appointed human authorities without confusing the two?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 19

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

דָּוִיד֙2 of 19

And David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

לְכָל3 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַקָּהָ֗ל4 of 19

And all the congregation

H6951

assemblage (usually concretely)

וַיְבָרֲכ֣וּ5 of 19

Now bless

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

נָ֖א6 of 19
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

אֶת7 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לַֽיהוָ֖ה8 of 19

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֣י9 of 19

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וַיְבָרֲכ֣וּ10 of 19

Now bless

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

כָֽל11 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַקָּהָ֗ל12 of 19

And all the congregation

H6951

assemblage (usually concretely)

לַֽיהוָ֖ה13 of 19

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֣י14 of 19

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

אֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֔ם15 of 19

of their fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וַיִּקְּד֧וּ16 of 19

and bowed down their heads

H6915

to shrivel up, i.e., contract or bend the body (or neck) in deference

וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֛וּ17 of 19

and worshipped

H7812

to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)

לַֽיהוָ֖ה18 of 19

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃19 of 19

and the king

H4428

a king


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Chronicles 29:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Chronicles 29:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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