And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,

1 CHRONICLES 21:9KJV
Know the Bible

1 Chronicles 21:9 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:9 mean?

1 Chronicles 21:9 describes how God spoke to Gad, who was known as David’s seer, giving him a message to deliver. This verse sets up the moment when God communicates through Gad to guide or correct King David after David’s actions in the previous verses.

Gad was a prophet closely connected to King David, and being called a "seer" meant he received visions or messages from God. The context is that David had sinned by ordering a census, and now God is about to respond to that event. This verse is the turning point where God’s direct instructions are about to be revealed through Gad.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 21:9

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the message comes from the covenant God of Israel, not just a generic deity.
  • seer (חֹזֶה, chozeh): This word means someone who sees visions, highlighting Gad’s role as a prophet who receives divine revelation in a visual or visionary way, not just through words.
  • spake (דָּבַר, dabar): This verb means "to speak" or "to declare," underlining that the message Gad receives is a direct communication from God, not just a personal insight.

Why 1 Chronicles 21:9 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s guidance to David comes through a recognized prophet, not through David’s own intuition or authority, showing the importance of prophetic mediation.
  • The use of the word "seer" reminds readers that God sometimes communicates through visions, not just spoken words, which helps explain the different ways God interacted with people in the Old Testament.
  • This moment is key in the story, as it leads to God offering David a choice of consequences for his actions, shaping the rest of the chapter and David’s response.

Where else these words appear

“seer” Hebrew H2374 · used in 22 verses

  • 2 Samuel 24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
  • 2 Chronicles 29:25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
  • Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

“Gad” Hebrew H1410 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
  • Deuteronomy 27:13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
  • 1 Samuel 22:5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.