1 Chronicles 16:22

[Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Saying, Touch {H5060} not mine anointed {H4899}, and do my prophets {H5030} no harm {H7489}.

"Don't touch my anointed ones or do my prophets harm!"

‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.

Commentary

Context

1 Chronicles 16:22 is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise delivered by King David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem. This particular verse is a direct quotation from a much older divine declaration, also found in Psalm 105:15. It serves as a reminder of God's steadfast protection over His chosen people, particularly during their nomadic period as they moved from land to land.

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection: The verse powerfully asserts God's unwavering commitment to guard and preserve those He has chosen and set apart for His purposes. It's a divine warning against any who would dare to harm them.
  • Reverence for God's Servants: It underscores the sacredness of God's chosen instruments—His 'anointed' and 'prophets'—demanding respect and non-interference from others.
  • God's Sovereignty: This declaration highlights God's absolute authority and active involvement in the affairs of humanity, demonstrating His right and power to protect His own.

Linguistic Insights

The term 'anointed' translates from the Hebrew word mashiyach (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning 'anointed one.' In the Old Testament, this referred to individuals consecrated with oil, typically kings (like David, 1 Samuel 16:13) and priests, signifying divine appointment and empowerment. This same root word is the source of 'Messiah' in Hebrew and 'Christ' in Greek, ultimately pointing to Jesus as the ultimate Anointed One. 'Prophets' (Hebrew: navi, נָבִיא) refers to those who speak God's word, acting as His direct messengers and spokespeople.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Historically, this command referred to God's covenant people, specifically the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their descendants. The preceding verses in 1 Chronicles 16 (and Psalm 105) recount how God protected them during their wanderings, explicitly stating that He "suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes" (1 Chronicles 16:21). This established a powerful precedent for God's direct intervention to safeguard those He had called for His purposes, even when they were a small, vulnerable group.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Chronicles 16:22 remains a powerful truth about God's protective hand over His people and His work. While the specific context of kings and prophets in ancient Israel has changed, the principle endures. All who are 'in Christ' are, in a spiritual sense, 'anointed' by the Holy Spirit for service (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). This verse calls for:

  • Respect for God's Servants: A cautious and respectful approach to those genuinely called and gifted by God to lead, teach, or speak His truth.
  • Trust in Divine Protection: Assurance that God watches over His own, providing spiritual and often physical protection even in the face of opposition.
  • Caution Against Opposition: A warning against opposing God's will or His chosen instruments, as doing so is to contend with God Himself. It encourages humility and discernment before criticizing or interfering with perceived divine work.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 20:7

    Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine.

  • Psalms 105:15

    [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

  • Genesis 49:8

    ¶ Judah, thou [art he] whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand [shall be] in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

  • Genesis 49:10

    The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].

  • Genesis 48:19

    And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

  • Genesis 48:20

    And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

  • 1 John 2:27

    But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
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