Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

1 CHRONICLES 29:1KJV
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1 Chronicles 29:1 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 29:1 mean?

1 Chronicles 29:1 describes King David addressing the whole assembly, explaining that God has chosen his son Solomon alone to build the temple, even though Solomon is still young and inexperienced. David emphasizes that the work ahead is huge and important because the palace, or temple, is not just for people but for the LORD God.

David is speaking publicly to the gathered people of Israel as he prepares to hand over leadership to Solomon. David points out Solomon’s youth and inexperience (“young and tender”) to highlight the challenge, and he stresses the greatness of the task because the building is for God, not just for human use. This sets the stage for the seriousness and sacredness of building the temple.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 29:1

  • "Congregation" (קָהָל, qāhāl): This word means an assembled group, often used for the gathered people of Israel. David is not speaking privately but making a formal announcement to the whole nation.
  • "Young" (נַעַר, naʿar) and "tender" (רַךְ, rakh): These words together stress Solomon’s lack of experience and vulnerability. David is making it clear that Solomon will need support.
  • "Palace" (בַּיִת, bayith): While often meaning "house," here it refers to the temple as a royal and sacred dwelling for God, not just a building for people.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The verse uses both the personal name for God and the more general term, underlining the importance and holiness of the temple project.

Why 1 Chronicles 29:1 matters

  • This verse helps readers see that Solomon’s appointment was God’s choice, not just David’s decision, which gives the coming events greater weight.
  • By stressing Solomon’s youth and the greatness of the work, David is preparing the people to support Solomon and recognize the temple’s special purpose.
  • The verse connects the building of the temple to God’s honor, not just national pride, showing that the project is a spiritual responsibility for the whole community.

Where else these words appear

“tender” Hebrew H7390 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 18:7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
  • Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
  • Proverbs 4:3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

“palace” Hebrew H1002 · used in 16 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
  • Esther 1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
  • Esther 8:14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

“congregation” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

“work” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
  • 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.