1 Chronicles 21:24 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:24 mean?

1 Chronicles 21:24 shows King David insisting on paying the full price for Ornan’s land and animals, refusing to offer to God something that cost him nothing. David wants his sacrifice to be genuine, not something gained for free from someone else.

In this verse, King David is speaking directly to Ornan, who had offered to give David his threshing floor and animals for a sacrifice after a plague struck Israel. David’s response highlights his belief that an offering to God should involve personal cost and commitment. The verse emphasizes David’s integrity and the seriousness with which he approaches worship.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 21:24

• קָנָה (qanah, “buy”): This word means to acquire or purchase. David’s use of it stresses that he wants to obtain the land in a proper, official way, not just accept it as a gift.
• מְלֵא (male, “full”): This word for “full” or “complete” price shows David’s intent to pay the entire, fair value, not a discounted or symbolic amount.
• מְחִיר (mekhir, “price”): This term means the actual cost or value, underlining that David is not looking for a bargain but wants to pay what the property is truly worth.
• חִנָּם (chinnam, “without cost”): This word means “for nothing” or “free.” David’s refusal to offer a sacrifice that costs him nothing points to the principle that true worship involves real giving or loss.

Why 1 Chronicles 21:24 matters

• This verse clarifies that David’s worship is not about convenience or ritual, but about sincere devotion that involves real sacrifice.
• It corrects any idea that offerings to God can be made lightly or without personal investment, showing that the heart behind the gift matters.
• The verse connects to the wider story, where David’s actions stop a plague, highlighting the importance of genuine repentance and costly obedience in times of crisis.