And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

1 CHRONICLES 29:7KJV
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1 Chronicles 29:7 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 29:7 mean?

1 Chronicles 29:7 describes the large amounts of gold, silver, bronze, and iron that the leaders of Israel gave for the work of building God’s temple. The verse lists the specific weights of each metal, showing the generosity and commitment of the people toward the temple project.

This verse comes from a moment when King David is gathering resources for the future temple in Jerusalem, which his son Solomon will build. David is addressing the leaders and people of Israel, and their offerings are a response to his call for contributions. The detailed listing of materials highlights both the scale of the project and the willingness of the community to support it.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 29:7

  • "Service" (עֲבֹדָה, ʿavodah): This word means work or service, often in a religious or temple context. Here, it emphasizes that the gifts are specifically for the tasks and upkeep involved in building and maintaining the temple.
  • "Talents" (כִּכָּר, kikkar): A "talent" was a large unit of weight, not a coin, often used for precious metals. The use of this term underlines the immense value of the offerings.
  • "Drams" (אֲדַרְכּוֹן, adarkon): This word refers to a specific weight or coin, possibly a Persian gold coin, showing that the gifts included both local and foreign measures of wealth.
  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): This word means "house," but in this context, it refers to the temple as the house of God, making clear the sacred purpose of the gifts.

Why 1 Chronicles 29:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the temple’s construction was a community effort, not just a royal project, with leaders and people giving generously from their own resources.
  • By listing the exact amounts and types of metals, the verse shows the seriousness and transparency of the preparations, which would have reassured the people about how their gifts were used.
  • This moment connects to the larger story of Israel’s worship and identity, as the temple would become the central place for their relationship with God.

Where else these words appear

“drams” Hebrew H150 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezra 8:27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.

“thousand” Hebrew H7239 · used in 10 verses

  • Ezra 2:64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
  • Nehemiah 7:71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
  • Daniel 11:12 And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

“talents” Hebrew H3603 · used in 55 verses

  • Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
  • 2 Samuel 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

“iron” Hebrew H1270 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 2 Samuel 23:7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
  • Psalms 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.