Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground. New Living Translation When Araunah saw David approaching, he left his threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. English Standard Version As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. Berean Standard Bible David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David. Berean Literal Bible And David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David, and he went out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. King James Bible And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. New King James Version So David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out from the threshing floor, and bowed before David with his face to the ground. New American Standard Bible As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and prostrated himself to David with his face to the ground. NASB 1995 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground. NASB 1977 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor, and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground. Legacy Standard Bible Then David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and bowed his face to the ground before David. Amplified Bible As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw him, and went out from the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground. Berean Annotated Bible David (beloved) came to Ornan (light was perpetuated), and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David. Christian Standard Bible David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground. Holman Christian Standard Bible David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground. American Standard Version And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Contemporary English Version Just then, David arrived, and when Araunah saw him, he stopped his work and bowed down. English Revised Version And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. GOD'S WORD® Translation When David arrived, Ornan looked up and saw him. So he left the threshing floor and bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of David. Good News Translation As soon as Araunah saw King David approaching, he left the threshing place and bowed low, with his face touching the ground. International Standard Version As David approached Ornan, Ornan looked around and observed David, left the threshing floor, and fell to the ground before David with his face on the ground. NET Bible When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground. New Heart English Bible As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Webster's Bible Translation And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked, and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDavid came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David. World English Bible As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd David comes to Ornan, and Ornan looks attentively and sees David, and goes out from the threshing-floor, and bows himself to David—face to the earth. Berean Literal Bible And David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David, and he went out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. Young's Literal Translation And David cometh in unto Ornan, and Ornan looketh attentively, and seeth David, and goeth out from the threshing-floor, and boweth himself to David -- face to the earth. Smith's Literal Translation And David will go even to Ornan, and Ornan will look and see David, and he will go forth from the threshing-floor, and he will worship to David, the face to the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd as David was coming to Ornan, Ornan saw him, and went out of the thrashingfloor to meet him, and bowed down to him with his face to the ground. Catholic Public Domain Version Then, as David was approaching Ornan, Ornan saw him, and he went out from the threshing floor to meet him. And he reverenced him prone on the ground. New American Bible But as David came toward Ornan, he looked up and saw that it was David, and left the threshing floor and bowed down before David, his face to the ground. New Revised Standard Version As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went out from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd as David came to Aran, Aran turned and saw David and went out of his threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David came to Aran, and Aran turned and he saw David, and he bowed to David on his face on the ground, and Aran went out from his granary. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed down to David with his face to the ground. Brenton Septuagint Translation And David came to Orna; and Orna came forth from the threshing-floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David Builds an Altar…20Now Ornan was threshing wheat when he turned and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David. 22Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”… Cross References David came to Ornan, 2 Samuel 12:1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. Genesis 33:4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. and when Ornan looked out and saw David, 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. Genesis 18:2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. Genesis 24:63 Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to meditate, and looking up, he saw the camels approaching. he left the threshing floor 2 Samuel 24:20-21 When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. / “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said. “To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.” Ruth 3:2-7 Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor. / Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. / When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do.” … and bowed facedown before David. 2 Samuel 9:6 And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. 2 Samuel 14:4 When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!” Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, 2 Samuel 24:18-25 And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” / So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded. / When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. … Genesis 23:7-16 Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. / “If you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf / to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.” … 1 Kings 21:2-3 So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” / But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Exodus 30:12-16 “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. / Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. / Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. … Numbers 16:46-50 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. / He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted. … Treasury of Scripture And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. bowed himself 1 Samuel 25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 2 Samuel 24:18-20 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite… Jump to Previous Approached Araunah Attentively Bowed Boweth David Earth Face Floor Forth Grain-Floor Ground Obeisance Ornan Prostrated Threshing Threshingfloor Threshing-FloorJump to Next Approached Araunah Attentively Bowed Boweth David Earth Face Floor Forth Grain-Floor Ground Obeisance Ornan Prostrated Threshing Threshingfloor Threshing-Floor1 Chronicles 21 1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it 9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence 14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem 18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor; 26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire. 28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel David came to Ornan David, the king of Israel, approaches Ornan, also known as Araunah, a Jebusite. This event occurs after David's census of Israel, which displeased God and led to a plague. The location is significant as it is the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Jebusites were the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered the city, indicating a peaceful coexistence at this point. This encounter highlights David's role as a leader who seeks to rectify his wrongs by building an altar to the Lord. and when Ornan looked out and saw David he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel, known for his heart after God, but also for his human failings. In this chapter, David is dealing with the consequences of his sin of conducting a census of Israel. 2. Araunah A Jebusite who owned the threshing floor where David intended to build an altar to the Lord. His interaction with David is significant in the account of repentance and sacrifice. 3. Threshing Floor A place where grain is separated from chaff, symbolically a place of separation and purification. It becomes the site for David's altar and later the location for Solomon's Temple. 4. Jerusalem The city where these events take place, central to Israel's history and God's covenant with His people. 5. The Plague A divine judgment sent upon Israel as a consequence of David's sin, which is halted at the threshing floor of Araunah. Teaching Points Repentance and RestorationDavid's approach to Araunah's threshing floor is a step towards repentance. True repentance involves acknowledging sin and taking steps to make things right with God. The Cost of Sacrifice David insists on paying for the threshing floor, teaching us that genuine worship and repentance often require personal sacrifice. God's Mercy Despite David's sin, God provides a way to stop the plague, demonstrating His mercy and willingness to forgive when we turn back to Him. The Significance of Place The threshing floor becomes a sacred site, reminding us that God can transform places of judgment into places of worship and blessing. Leadership and Accountability As a leader, David's actions had consequences for the entire nation, highlighting the importance of responsible and godly leadership. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 21:21?2. How does David's approach to Ornan demonstrate humility and respect for God's commands? 3. What can we learn about repentance from David's actions in 1 Chronicles 21:21? 4. How does 1 Chronicles 21:21 connect to the theme of sacrificial giving? 5. In what ways can we apply David's example of obedience in our lives? 6. How does this verse illustrate the importance of seeking God's guidance in decisions? 7. Why did David approach Araunah in 1 Chronicles 21:21? 8. What is the significance of David buying the threshing floor? 9. How does 1 Chronicles 21:21 relate to the concept of repentance? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 21? 11. What historical or archaeological evidence supports a massive plague and angelic destruction in 1 Chronicles 21:14-16? 12. Who incited David to take a census? (2 Samuel 24:1 vs. 1 Chronicles 21:1) 13. Who incited David to count the fighting men of Israel? God did (2 Samuel 24: 1) Satan did (I Chronicles 2 1:1) 14. Did David or Elhanan kill Goliath? What Does 1 Chronicles 21:21 Mean David came to Ornan• David has just obeyed the prophet Gad’s command to build an altar “on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (1 Chronicles 21:18–19). • His approach shows active repentance after the census sin; he goes personally rather than sending servants (contrast 2 Samuel 24:19). • God is guiding David’s steps to the exact spot where plague will be stopped and, later, the temple will stand (2 Chronicles 3:1). • Lesson: when the Lord pinpoints the place of sacrifice, faith responds promptly and directly. Ornan looked out • Ornan is threshing wheat when he “looked out and saw David” (v. 21). His alertness suggests a heart ready to recognize God-given authority (Romans 13:1). • Seeing the king in person would signal something important; Ornan’s quick gaze catches a divine appointment unfolding (Proverbs 16:9). • The text reminds us God often enters ordinary routines—work, family, chores—to call us into His bigger plans (Exodus 3:1–4; Luke 5:1-3). He left the threshing floor • Ornan immediately steps away from his labor, choosing worship over work at that moment (Ecclesiastes 3:1). • The threshing floor, a place of separating grain from chaff, becomes a symbol of God separating judgment from mercy on Israel (Matthew 3:12). • Leaving the tools behind shows faith that obedience is more urgent than productivity (Mark 1:18). Bowed facedown before David • “He bowed facedown before David” (v. 21). This physical posture expresses deep respect for God’s anointed king (1 Samuel 24:8; Psalm 2:11-12). • Bowing acknowledges that David’s presence represents the Lord’s authority; ultimately the honor flows to God Himself (1 Chronicles 29:20). • The gesture also conveys submission—Ornan is ready to give his prized threshing floor without bargaining (vv. 22-23), mirroring believers who yield fully to God’s purposes (Romans 12:1). summary 1 Chronicles 21:21 captures a divinely arranged meeting where a repentant king and a responsive subject converge. David’s determined approach, Ornan’s watchful eye, his readiness to lay aside work, and his humble bow together illustrate how God’s people should meet His interventions—with prompt obedience, attentiveness, surrendered priorities, and reverent humility. The verse points ahead to the ultimate sacrifice that would end judgment and foreshadows the temple where God’s mercy would be celebrated. (21) And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David.--This is wanting in Samuel. The corruption of the previous verse made some such statement necessary here. The rest of the verse nearly corresponds with 2Samuel 24:20.Hebrew Davidדָוִ֖יד (ḏā·wîḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse came וַיָּבֹ֥א (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while Ornan, אָרְנָ֑ן (’ā·rə·nān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 771: Ornan -- a Jebusite and when Ornan אָרְנָן֙ (’ā·rə·nān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 771: Ornan -- a Jebusite looked out וַיַּבֵּ֤ט (way·yab·bêṭ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard and saw וַיַּ֣רְא (way·yar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see David, דָּוִ֔יד (dā·wîḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse he left וַיֵּצֵא֙ (way·yê·ṣê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim the threshing floor הַגֹּ֔רֶן (hag·gō·ren) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1637: A threshing-floor, open area and bowed וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ (way·yiš·ta·ḥū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate facedown אַפַּ֖יִם (’ap·pa·yim) Noun - md Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire before David. לְדָוִ֛יד (lə·ḏā·wîḏ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse Links 1 Chronicles 21:21 NIV1 Chronicles 21:21 NLT 1 Chronicles 21:21 ESV 1 Chronicles 21:21 NASB 1 Chronicles 21:21 KJV 1 Chronicles 21:21 BibleApps.com 1 Chronicles 21:21 Biblia Paralela 1 Chronicles 21:21 Chinese Bible 1 Chronicles 21:21 French Bible 1 Chronicles 21:21 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:21 As David came to Ornan Ornan looked (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr) |
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