1 Chronicles 21:15

Authorized King James Version

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩
sent
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#2
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀
And God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#3
וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ
And the angel
a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
#4
לִֽירוּשָׁלִַם֮
unto Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#5
הַמַּשְׁחִית֙
it and as he was destroying
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
#6
הַמַּשְׁחִית֙
it and as he was destroying
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
#7
רָאָ֤ה
beheld
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
#8
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם
and he repented
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
#10
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#11
הָֽרָעָ֔ה
him of the evil
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
#12
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר
and said
to say (used with great latitude)
#13
וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ
And the angel
a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
#14
הַמַּשְׁחִית֙
it and as he was destroying
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
#15
רַ֔ב
It is enough
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
#16
עַתָּ֖ה
at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
#17
הֶ֣רֶף
stay
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
#18
יָדֶ֑ךָ
now thine hand
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#19
וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ
And the angel
a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
#20
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#21
עֹמֵ֔ד
stood
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#22
עִם
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#23
גֹּ֖רֶן
by the threshingfloor
a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area
#24
אָרְנָ֥ן
of Ornan
ornan, a jebusite
#25
הַיְבוּסִֽי׃
the Jebusite
a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection