1 Chronicles 22:19

Authorized King James Version

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Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

Original Language Analysis

עַתָּ֗ה H6258
עַתָּ֗ה
Strong's: H6258
Word #: 1 of 25
at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
תְּנ֤וּ Now set H5414
תְּנ֤וּ Now set
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 2 of 25
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְבַבְכֶם֙ your heart H3824
לְבַבְכֶם֙ your heart
Strong's: H3824
Word #: 3 of 25
the heart (as the most interior organ)
וְנַפְשְׁכֶ֔ם and your soul H5315
וְנַפְשְׁכֶ֔ם and your soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 4 of 25
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
לִדְר֖וֹשׁ to seek H1875
לִדְר֖וֹשׁ to seek
Strong's: H1875
Word #: 5 of 25
properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 6 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 7 of 25
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
וְק֗וּמוּ arise H6965
וְק֗וּמוּ arise
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 8 of 25
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
הַנִּבְנֶ֥ה that is to be built H1129
הַנִּבְנֶ֥ה that is to be built
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 9 of 25
to build (literally and figuratively)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 10 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִקְדַּשׁ֙ ye the sanctuary H4720
מִקְדַּשׁ֙ ye the sanctuary
Strong's: H4720
Word #: 11 of 25
a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 12 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 13 of 25
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
לְהָבִ֞יא to bring H935
לְהָבִ֞יא to bring
Strong's: H935
Word #: 14 of 25
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 15 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲר֣וֹן the ark H727
אֲר֣וֹן the ark
Strong's: H727
Word #: 16 of 25
a box
בְּרִית of the covenant H1285
בְּרִית of the covenant
Strong's: H1285
Word #: 17 of 25
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 18 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּכְלֵי֙ vessels H3627
וּכְלֵי֙ vessels
Strong's: H3627
Word #: 19 of 25
something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
קֹ֣דֶשׁ and the holy H6944
קֹ֣דֶשׁ and the holy
Strong's: H6944
Word #: 20 of 25
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God H430
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 21 of 25
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
לַבַּ֖יִת into the house H1004
לַבַּ֖יִת into the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 22 of 25
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
הַנִּבְנֶ֥ה that is to be built H1129
הַנִּבְנֶ֥ה that is to be built
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 23 of 25
to build (literally and figuratively)
לְשֵׁם to the name H8034
לְשֵׁם to the name
Strong's: H8034
Word #: 24 of 25
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 25 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Cross References

1 Chronicles 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.Deuteronomy 4:29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.Psalms 27:4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.1 Chronicles 22:7And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.1 Kings 8:6And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.2 Chronicles 5:7And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:1 Kings 8:21And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.Acts 22:16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.2 Chronicles 6:11And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

Analysis & Commentary

David's exhortation to Israel's leaders: 'Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.' The command 'set your heart and soul' (Hebrew: tenu levavkem v'nafshekem) requires total commitment - both intellect/will (heart) and being/desire (soul). Seeking God precedes building His house - internal devotion before external construction. This teaches that spiritual preparation must precede and undergird physical worship spaces. Christ builds His church from living stones whose hearts and souls seek God.

Historical Context

David's charge to leaders (c. 971 BCE) mobilized Israel's resources for Solomon's temple. His emphasis on heart-preparation acknowledged that without inward devotion, outward religious structures are empty shells - a lesson Israel would repeatedly forget.

Questions for Reflection