1 Chronicles 16:21

KJV

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

KJV (with Strong's)

He suffered {H3240} no man {H376} to do them wrong {H6231}: yea, he reproved {H3198} kings {H4428} for their sakes,

Complete Jewish Bible

he allowed no one to oppress them. Yes, for their sakes he rebuked even kings:

Berean Standard Bible

He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:

American Standard Version

He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 16:21, drawn from David's psalm of thanksgiving, powerfully declares God's unwavering and active protection over His chosen people, specifically the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, during their vulnerable sojourning period. It highlights God's direct intervention, preventing harm from coming to them and demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty by rebuking powerful earthly kings for their sake. This verse serves as a historical testament to God's covenant faithfulness and His vigilant care for those He has called.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 1 Chronicles 16 records King David's magnificent psalm of thanksgiving and praise, recited before the Lord after the [Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem](/1_chronicles/15 "1 Chronicles 15 - Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem"). This event marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, establishing Jerusalem as the spiritual and political capital and formalizing proper worship. Verses 8-22 of this chapter are nearly identical to [Psalm 105:1-15](/psalm/105 "Psalm 105 - God's Faithfulness to Israel"), a historical psalm recounting God's faithfulness to Israel from Abraham through the Exodus. Verse 21 specifically echoes [Psalm 105:14](/psalm/105-14 "Psalm 105:14 - God's Protection of His Anointed"), emphasizing God's historical care for His people, particularly during their formative years as sojourners before the establishment of the nation. The Chronicler includes this psalm to underscore God's enduring covenant promises and His active role in Israel's history, providing assurance and a foundation for future worship.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "them" in verse 21 refers primarily to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their nascent families, as explicitly mentioned in the preceding verses ([1 Chronicles 16:19-20](/1_chronicles/16-19 "1 Chronicles 16:19-20 - The Patriarchs as Few in Number")). During this period, these individuals were numerically few, nomadic sojourners in foreign lands (Canaan, Egypt, Gerar), lacking political power or military might. They were highly vulnerable to the whims of local rulers and the dangers of the wilderness. In the ancient Near East, kings held absolute power, and their decrees were often final. For God to "reprove kings" for the sake of a small, seemingly insignificant family was an extraordinary demonstration of divine authority, challenging the conventional power structures of the time. This context underscores the miraculous nature of God's protection and His unique relationship with His chosen covenant partners, setting them apart from other peoples.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within 1 Chronicles and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Protection**, showcasing God as a vigilant and active guardian of His chosen people, ensuring their safety even when they are few and vulnerable. Secondly, it highlights **God's Sovereignty Over Rulers**, demonstrating that God holds ultimate authority, even over earthly kings and nations. He can rebuke and control powerful rulers for the sake of His purposes and His people, as seen in His warnings to Pharaoh concerning Abraham ([Genesis 12:17](/genesis/12-17 "Genesis 12:17 - God Strikes Pharaoh")) and Abimelech concerning Abraham and Isaac ([Genesis 20:6](/genesis/20-6 "Genesis 20:6 - God Warns Abimelech"), [Genesis 26:11](/genesis/26-11 "Genesis 26:11 - Abimelech Warns His People")). Thirdly, the verse underscores **Covenant Faithfulness**, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to His promises, particularly the [covenant made with Abraham](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - The Abrahamic Covenant"). He defends His people because of His unbreakable word, ensuring the lineage through which His redemptive plan would unfold. Finally, it speaks to **God's Care for the Vulnerable**, highlighting His special attention to those who are seemingly powerless, providing a strong defense against oppressive forces.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Suffered (Hebrew, _nathan'_):** While commonly translated "suffered" in the KJV, the Hebrew verb נָתַן (*nathan*) primarily means "to give, put, set, allow." In this context, it carries the sense of "He did not allow" or "He did not permit." This emphasizes God's active, conscious decision and intervention to prevent any harm from befalling His chosen ones. It's not a passive allowance but an authoritative restriction on others' actions.
* **Reproved (Hebrew, _yakach'_):** The Hebrew verb יָכַח (*yakach*) is stronger than mere verbal correction. It implies to judge, rebuke, or even execute judgment, to contend with, to decide, or to chasten. This word signifies a forceful, authoritative divine confrontation or intervention, demonstrating God's ultimate power and the seriousness with which He dealt with those who threatened His people. It was not a gentle suggestion but a decisive act of divine justice and protection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He suffered no man to do them wrong":** This clause emphasizes God's proactive and absolute prevention of harm. The "He" refers to God, and "them" refers to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and their families. Despite their vulnerability as sojourners, God ensured that no human agent could inflict lasting or covenant-breaking harm upon them. This speaks to God's omnipresent watchfulness and His direct involvement in the affairs of His chosen people.
* **"yea, he reproved kings for their sakes":** This second clause provides specific evidence and intensifies the declaration of God's protection. It highlights that God's intervention extended even to the most powerful earthly rulers. The "reproving" was not merely a verbal warning but a demonstration of divine displeasure and judgment, often involving plagues or direct divine communication, as seen in the accounts of Pharaoh ([Genesis 12:17-20](/genesis/12-17 "Genesis 12:17-20 - Pharaoh Rebuked")) and Abimelech ([Genesis 20:3-7](/genesis/20-3 "Genesis 20:3-7 - Abimelech Warned")). God intervened directly, not for the kings' sakes, but "for their sakes"—for the sake of His covenant people, to ensure their safety and the fulfillment of His promises.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the description of God "suffering" (or not allowing) and "reproving," attributing human-like actions and emotions (or lack thereof) to God to make His intervention understandable. The phrase "no man" functions as a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the completeness and effectiveness of God's protection, even though attempts to harm them did occur (e.g., Abimelech's actions). The verse also demonstrates **Divine Sovereignty** as a thematic device, showcasing God's absolute control over earthly powers and His unwavering commitment to His covenant purposes. Furthermore, the nearly identical phrasing to [Psalm 105:14](/psalm/105-14 "Psalm 105:14 - God's Protection") creates a powerful **intertextual echo**, reinforcing the historical truth and theological significance of God's consistent protection across different biblical texts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 16:21 profoundly illustrates God's active sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. It reveals a God who is not distant or passive but intimately involved in the lives of His people, particularly when they are vulnerable. This divine protection is rooted in His unbreakable promises and His ultimate purpose to establish a people for Himself. The "reproving of kings" underscores that no earthly power, however mighty, can thwart God's plans or harm His chosen ones without His permission. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, affirming God's ultimate control over history and nations for the sake of His redemptive purposes.

* [Psalm 105:14-15](/psalm/105-14 "Psalm 105:14-15 - God's Protection of His Anointed")
* [Genesis 12:17](/genesis/12-17 "Genesis 12:17 - God Strikes Pharaoh for Abraham's Sake")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - God Is For Us")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, 1 Chronicles 16:21 serves as a profound reminder of God's enduring protection and faithfulness. Just as He guarded the patriarchs in their wanderings, He continues to watch over His people, even in the face of powerful adversaries or challenging circumstances. This verse encourages deep trust in God's sovereign control over all earthly powers, assuring us that His purposes for His children will prevail, and He will defend those who are His. It calls us to live with confidence, knowing that our ultimate security rests not in human strength or political systems, but in the unshakeable power and unwavering love of our covenant-keeping God. When we face opposition or feel vulnerable, we can recall God's historical interventions and find peace in His unchanging character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel most vulnerable, and how does the truth of God's protective hand in 1 Chronicles 16:21 speak to those fears?**
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty over earthly rulers (even those who seem all-powerful) impact your perspective on current events or political anxieties?**
* **What specific instances in your own life can you recall where God intervened to protect or provide for you in unexpected ways?**

### FAQ
**Who are "them" that God suffered no man to wrong?**

Answer: The "them" refers specifically to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their immediate families. The preceding verses in 1 Chronicles 16 (and the parallel in [Psalm 105:12](/psalm/105-12 "Psalm 105:12 - When They Were Few")) describe them as "few in number, yea, very few, and strangers in it." This highlights their vulnerability and God's extraordinary, direct intervention on behalf of a small, unestablished group.

**How did God "reprove kings" for their sakes?**

Answer: God reproved kings through various means, often involving divine warnings, plagues, or direct supernatural intervention. Key examples include God afflicting Pharaoh's house with plagues when Abraham's wife, Sarah, was taken into his palace ([Genesis 12:17](/genesis/12-17 "Genesis 12:17 - God Strikes Pharaoh")). Similarly, God appeared to King Abimelech in a dream, warning him not to touch Sarah and threatening him with death ([Genesis 20:3-7](/genesis/20-3 "Genesis 20:3-7 - God Warns Abimelech")). Later, Abimelech also warned his people not to touch Isaac or Rebekah ([Genesis 26:11](/genesis/26-11 "Genesis 26:11 - Abimelech Protects Isaac")). These were not gentle suggestions but powerful, authoritative divine confrontations that demonstrated God's ultimate sovereignty.

**Does this verse imply that believers today will never suffer harm or wrong?**

Answer: No, this verse does not guarantee a life free from suffering or harm for believers. While God's protection is real and enduring, the nature of that protection has evolved. In the Old Testament, God's protection of the patriarchs was often physical and immediate to ensure the preservation of the covenant line. For New Testament believers, God's protection is primarily spiritual, ensuring our ultimate salvation and perseverance in faith ([John 10:28-29](/john/10-28 "John 10:28-29 - No One Can Snatch Them")). While God can and does intervene to protect physically, He also allows suffering and persecution for various purposes, including refining faith and advancing His kingdom ([Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good"), [2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - Persecution for Godliness")). The core message remains God's unwavering faithfulness and His ultimate control over all circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 16:21 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The patriarchs were God's "anointed" and "prophets" in a nascent sense, protected for the sake of the covenant lineage that would ultimately lead to the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the quintessential "anointed one" ([Psalm 2:2](/psalm/2-2 "Psalm 2:2 - God's Anointed King")), the true Son of David, and the ultimate embodiment of God's covenant faithfulness. God "suffered no man to do Him wrong" until His appointed time, demonstrating divine protection over His Son throughout His earthly ministry, even when kings like Herod sought His life ([Matthew 2:13](/matthew/2-13 "Matthew 2:13 - Flight to Egypt")). Jesus Himself exercised authority over earthly powers and spiritual forces, rebuking demons ([Mark 1:27](/mark/1-27 "Mark 1:27 - Jesus' Authority Over Unclean Spirits")) and declaring His ultimate authority to Pilate ([John 19:11](/john/19-11 "John 19:11 - Jesus' Authority from Above")). Moreover, through Christ, God's people become part of a new covenant, eternally secure in Him. Just as God protected the physical lineage, He now protects the spiritual lineage—the Church—from ultimate destruction, ensuring that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Church Built on the Rock")). Christ's finished work on the cross and His resurrection are the ultimate demonstration of God's protective power, conquering sin and death for His chosen ones, and guaranteeing their eternal inheritance ([Ephesians 1:13-14](/ephesians/1-13 "Ephesians 1:13-14 - Sealed with the Holy Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 20:3

¶ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife.

Genesis 12:17

And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

Exodus 7:15

Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Exodus 7:18

And the fish that [is] in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.

Genesis 31:42

Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight.

Genesis 31:29

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Exodus 9:13

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.