Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:

1 CHRONICLES 28:2KJV
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1 Chronicles 28:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 28:2 mean?

1 Chronicles 28:2 describes King David standing up before the people and telling them that he had wanted to build a special house—a temple—for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, which he calls God’s footstool, and that he had already made preparations for this building project. David is sharing his personal desire and the steps he took to honor God with a permanent resting place for the ark.

In this verse, King David is speaking directly to the gathered leaders and people of Israel near the end of his life. He explains his heartfelt wish to build a temple for the ark, which represented God’s presence among the people, and emphasizes that he had already made plans and gathered materials for it. This sets the stage for David to explain why he will not be the one to actually build the temple, and to pass the responsibility to his son Solomon.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 28:2

  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): This word means a physical building or dwelling, and here it refers specifically to the temple David hoped to build as a permanent place for the ark.
  • "Rest" (מְנוּחָה, menuchah): This word carries the sense of a settled, peaceful place. David’s desire was not just for a building, but for a place where the ark—and thus God’s presence—could remain undisturbed.
  • "Footstool" (הֲדֹם, hadom): Calling the ark or the temple God’s footstool is a way of expressing that it is the closest point of God’s presence on earth, a humble place in relation to God’s heavenly throne.
  • "Heart" (לֵבָב, levav): When David says he had it "in his heart," the Hebrew word points to his deepest intentions and desires, not just a passing thought.

Why 1 Chronicles 28:2 matters

  • This verse clarifies that building the temple was David’s own deep desire, not just a political or national project, but something he felt personally called to do for God.
  • By calling the ark God’s footstool, David highlights the belief that God’s presence was especially connected to the ark, making the temple a uniquely holy place.
  • The verse prepares the reader for the important transition of leadership and responsibility from David to Solomon, showing that the temple’s construction was carefully planned and not a sudden decision.

Where else these words appear

“footstool” Hebrew H1916 · used in 6 verses

  • Psalms 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
  • Psalms 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
  • Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

“rest” Hebrew H4496 · used in 21 verses

  • Genesis 49:15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
  • 1 Kings 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
  • Isaiah 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.