1 Chronicles 21:24
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
Original Language Analysis
לֹ֕א
H3808
לֹ֕א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֶקְנֶ֖ה
Nay but I will verily
H7069
אֶקְנֶ֖ה
Nay but I will verily
Strong's:
H7069
Word #:
7 of 19
to erect, i.e., create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own
אֶקְנֶ֖ה
Nay but I will verily
H7069
אֶקְנֶ֖ה
Nay but I will verily
Strong's:
H7069
Word #:
8 of 19
to erect, i.e., create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own
מָלֵ֑א
it for the full
H4392
מָלֵ֑א
it for the full
Strong's:
H4392
Word #:
10 of 19
full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully
כִּ֠י
H3588
כִּ֠י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֶשָּׂ֤א
for I will not take
H5375
אֶשָּׂ֤א
for I will not take
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
13 of 19
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
that which is thine for the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
that which is thine for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְהַֽעֲל֥וֹת
nor offer
H5927
וְהַֽעֲל֥וֹת
nor offer
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
17 of 19
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Historical Context
The threshing floor purchase (c. 975 BCE) followed the plague that killed 70,000 Israelites (21:14). David's willingness to pay full price despite divine permission to stop the plague showed his commitment to proper atonement and worship, establishing the future temple location.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'free' shortcuts in worship or service are you tempted to take rather than offering God costly devotion?
- How does David's principle challenge your giving - of time, resources, and energy - to God's work?
Analysis & Commentary
David's response to Araunah's offer to give the threshing floor free: 'And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.' This principle - refusing to offer God what costs nothing - demonstrates that acceptable worship requires sacrifice. David rejected the easy path of accepting a gift, insisting on paying full price. This teaches that genuine worship is costly, not convenient. The threshing floor would become the temple site, making this purchase foundational to Israel's worship. Christ supremely embodied this principle, offering His life at infinite cost for our salvation.