1 Chronicles 29:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For in your presence we are temporary residents, just passing through, as all our ancestors were - our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Berean Standard Bible:

For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

American Standard Version:

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For we are strangers^{H1616} before^{H6440} thee, and sojourners^{H8453}, as were all our fathers^{H1}: our days^{H3117} on the earth^{H776} are as a shadow^{H6738}, and there is none abiding^{H4723}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for 1 Chronicles 29:15

1 Chronicles 29:15 is part of a larger passage where King David is offering a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication to God as he prepares to hand over the responsibility of building the temple to his son Solomon. This verse reflects a theme of humility and transience in the face of God's eternal sovereignty. David acknowledges that the people of Israel, like their ancestors before them, are merely "strangers and sojourners" on the earth, implying a sense of temporal existence and the impermanence of human life.

The historical context of this verse is significant. David, despite having been a powerful king, recognizes that true power and permanence belong to God alone. The Israelites, having a history of wandering and exile, are reminded of their vulnerability and the fleeting nature of their earthly lives. The verse emphasizes the idea that human existence is fleeting, "as a shadow," with no one able to remain permanently on earth. This perspective encourages a focus on the eternal rather than the temporal, and it underscores the importance of living a life that honors God, as human achievements and life itself are impermanent.

In summary, 1 Chronicles 29:15 encapsulates the biblical themes of humility before God, the transient nature of human life, and the importance of seeking a legacy that endures beyond earthly existence. David's words serve as a reminder to the people of Israel, and by extension to all readers, that life is short and unpredictable, and that one's ultimate hope and trust should be placed in God, the eternal and unchanging.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1616
   There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֵּר
   Transliteration: gêr
   Pronunciation: gare
   Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8453
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תּוֹשָׁב
   Transliteration: tôwshâb
   Pronunciation: to-shawb'
   Description: or תֹּשָׁב; (1 Kings 17:1), from יָשַׁב; a dweller (but not outlandish (נׇכְרִי)); especially (as distinguished from a native citizen (active participle of יָשַׁב) and a temporary inmate (גֵּר) or mere lodger (לוּן)); resident alien; foreigner, inhabitant, sojourner, stranger.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
6. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6738
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צֵל
   Transliteration: tsêl
   Pronunciation: tsale
   Description: from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow).
   
8. Strong's Number: H4723
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִקְוֶה
   Transliteration: miqveh
   Pronunciation: mik-veh'
   Description: or מִקְוֵה; (1 Kings 10:28), or מִקְוֵאlemma מִּקְוֵא extra dagesh, corrected to מִקְוֵא; (2 Chronicles 1:16), from קָוָה; something waited for, i.e. confidence (objective or subjective); also a collection, i.e. (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove; abiding, gathering together, hope, linen yarn, plenty (of water), pool.