For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

1 CHRONICLES 29:15KJV
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1 Chronicles 29:15 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 29:15 mean?

1 Chronicles 29:15 describes how the people of Israel, including their ancestors, saw themselves as temporary residents and outsiders before God, with lives that pass quickly like a shadow and nothing on earth that lasts forever. The verse expresses a sense of humility and the fleeting nature of human life compared to God’s eternal presence.

King David is speaking to God in front of the assembled Israelites as they dedicate resources for building the temple. David’s words highlight that, despite their history and achievements, the people are ultimately dependent on God and have no permanent claim to the land or their lives. The verse sets a humble tone, reminding everyone that all they have and are comes from God, and that their time on earth is brief.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 29:15

  • "strangers" (גֵּרִים, gerim): This word refers to foreigners or people living in a land that is not their own. David uses it to stress that Israel’s place before God is not one of ownership, but of guests or outsiders.
  • "sojourners" (תוֹשָׁבִים, toshavim): This term means temporary residents, emphasizing that their stay is not permanent. It deepens the idea that their time and possessions are not lasting.
  • "shadow" (צֵל, tzel): The image of a shadow suggests something insubstantial and fleeting, reinforcing how short and uncertain human life is.
  • "abiding" (מִקְוֶה, miqveh): Here, it means something permanent or enduring. The verse says there is "none abiding," underlining that nothing in earthly life lasts.

Why 1 Chronicles 29:15 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that the Israelites saw themselves as entitled to their land or blessings; instead, they recognized their dependence on God for everything.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme of 1 Chronicles 29, where David leads the people in giving generously for the temple, reminding them that all they have is temporary and belongs to God.
  • By calling themselves "strangers and sojourners," David echoes language used about Abraham and the patriarchs, tying the present generation to their ancestors’ humble beginnings and ongoing reliance on God.