And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

1 CHRONICLES 29:20KJV
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1 Chronicles 29:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 29:20 mean?

1 Chronicles 29:20 describes King David telling the whole assembly of Israelites to bless the LORD their God, and the people responding by blessing the LORD, bowing their heads, and worshipping both the LORD and the king. This moment shows a unified act of reverence and gratitude toward God and respect for David as king.

David is speaking to the gathered congregation at the end of his reign, after collecting offerings for the future temple. The people’s response is both an act of worship toward God and a public acknowledgment of David’s leadership. The verse highlights a moment of national unity, devotion, and transition as Solomon prepares to become king.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 29:20

  • "Bless" (בָּרַךְ, barak): This word means to praise or speak well of someone, especially God. Here, it signals the people’s active participation in honoring God, not just a passive feeling.
  • "Congregation" (קָהָל, qahal): This term refers to the assembled people of Israel. It emphasizes that this act of blessing and worship involved the whole community, not just leaders or priests.
  • "Worshipped" (שָׁחָה, shachah): This word means to bow down or prostrate oneself, showing deep respect or submission. The physical act of bowing highlights the humility and reverence of the people before God and their king.

Why 1 Chronicles 29:20 matters

  • This verse clarifies that worship in ancient Israel was often a public, communal act, not just a private or individual experience.
  • The people’s blessing of both the LORD and the king shows the close connection between faith in God and respect for God-appointed leadership in Israel’s history.
  • The verse marks a key moment of transition in Israel’s story, as David’s reign ends and Solomon’s begins, with the people united in purpose and devotion.

Where else these words appear

“heads” Hebrew H6915 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
  • Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
  • 1 Kings 1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

“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,