1 Chronicles 21:22 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:22 mean?

1 Chronicles 21:22 describes King David asking Ornan to sell him the place where Ornan’s threshing floor is, so David can build an altar to the LORD there. David insists on paying the full price, hoping that by doing this, the plague affecting the people will stop.

In this scene, David is speaking directly to Ornan (also known as Araunah), during a crisis when a plague has struck Israel as a result of David’s earlier actions. David wants to buy the exact spot of Ornan’s threshing floor, not just borrow it, because he intends to build an altar to God there as a way to seek mercy for the people. David’s insistence on paying the full price shows his seriousness and respect for both Ornan and for God.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 21:22

• "Place" (מָקוֹם, maqom): This word means a specific location or site. David is not asking for just any land, but for this exact spot, highlighting its importance.
• "Threshingfloor" (גֹּרֶן, goren): A threshing floor was a flat area used to separate grain from chaff. In ancient Israel, such places were often on high ground, making them visible and significant.
• "Full price" (מְלֵא, mele’ + כֶּסֶף, keseph): David asks to pay the complete, fair value, not accepting a gift or a discount. This emphasizes that sacrifices to God should cost the giver something.
• "Plague" (מַגֵּפָה, maggefah): This word refers to a devastating disease or disaster. David’s goal is to stop the suffering of the people by making things right with God.

Why 1 Chronicles 21:22 matters

• This verse clarifies that David wants to make a genuine, costly offering to God, not a token gesture or a sacrifice that costs him nothing.
• It shows David’s sense of responsibility as king, as he seeks to end the plague affecting his people by acting quickly and decisively.
• The location of Ornan’s threshing floor later becomes the site of the temple in Jerusalem, making this moment a turning point in Israel’s history.