O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1 CHRONICLES 17:20KJV
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1 Chronicles 17:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 17:20 mean?

1 Chronicles 17:20 declares that the LORD is unique and there is no other God besides Him, as confirmed by everything the people have heard. This verse is a statement of God’s unmatched greatness and the exclusive place He holds as God, based on the people’s experience and tradition.

In this verse, King David is speaking to God in prayer after hearing God’s promises about his descendants and the future of Israel. David is expressing awe and gratitude, recognizing that no other being compares to the LORD (the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible) and that the stories and history passed down all confirm this truth.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 17:20

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal, covenant name of God used throughout the Hebrew Bible. By using this name, David is addressing God in a very direct and relational way, not just as a distant deity.
  • God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This word is often used for God in general but also appears for other spiritual beings in the Old Testament. Here, it emphasizes that among all who might be called "gods," only the LORD truly is God.
  • beside (זֻלָּע, zullaʿ): This word means "apart from" or "besides." It stresses the idea that there is no other being in the same category as the LORD—He stands alone.
  • heard (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This verb means "to hear" or "to listen." David refers to what the people have learned about God through stories, teaching, and tradition.
  • ears (אֹזֶן, ozen): This is the common word for "ears," highlighting that this knowledge about God comes from what has been passed down and received by the community.

Why 1 Chronicles 17:20 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that Israel’s God is just one among many; it emphasizes that the LORD is absolutely unique and alone in His divinity.
  • The verse connects David’s personal prayer to the larger story of Israel, showing that their understanding of God comes from shared history and testimony, not just personal experience.
  • By using both the personal name (Yahweh) and the general term for God (Elohim), the verse highlights both God’s closeness to His people and His supremacy over all other so-called gods.