1 Chronicles 13:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 13:11 mean?

1 Chronicles 13:11 describes how David became upset because the LORD had struck down Uzza, leading David to name that place Perezuzza, which means "the breach of Uzza." The verse highlights David's emotional reaction to God's sudden judgment and the lasting memory of the event through the place name.

David is the main figure in this verse, reacting to the death of Uzza, who had touched the ark of God during its transport. The situation takes place as David is bringing the ark to Jerusalem, but Uzza's action leads to God's anger and Uzza's death. The naming of the place, Perezuzza, serves as a reminder of the seriousness of approaching holy things in the wrong way.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 13:11

• "Displeased" (חָרָה, charah) means to be angry or deeply upset. This word shows that David's reaction was not just sadness but a strong emotional disturbance.
• "Made a breach" (פָּרַץ, parats) and "breach" (פֶּרֶץ, perets) both come from the same root, meaning to break out or burst forth. This language emphasizes the sudden and forceful nature of God's action against Uzza.
• "Perezuzza" (פֶּרֶץ עֻזָּה, perets-uzza) literally means "the breach of Uzza." The name itself becomes a memorial to what happened, marking the spot as a place of God's judgment.

Why 1 Chronicles 13:11 matters

• The verse clarifies that David's displeasure was not just personal grief but a troubled response to God's unexpected intervention, which shaped his approach to the ark afterward.
• Naming the place Perezuzza shows how moments of judgment or warning in Israel's history were often remembered by naming locations, making the lesson visible to future generations.
• This verse connects to the larger story by showing the seriousness of handling sacred things and sets up David's later carefulness in bringing the ark to Jerusalem.