1 Chronicles 16:27

KJV

Glory and honour [are] in his presence; strength and gladness [are] in his place.

KJV (with Strong's)

Glory {H1935} and honour {H1926} are in his presence {H6440}; strength {H5797} and gladness {H2304} are in his place {H4725}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In his presence are honor and majesty; in his place, strength and joy.

Berean Standard Bible

Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.

American Standard Version

Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 16:27 stands as a profound declaration of God's inherent majesty and the blessed reality of His nearness. Embedded within King David's psalm of thanksgiving, offered when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, this verse beautifully articulates the attributes that radiate from God's very being—His glorious splendor, inherent worth, omnipotent power, and the profound joy that characterizes His immediate presence and broader sphere of influence. It encapsulates the essence of encountering the divine, revealing the inexhaustible riches found in God alone.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal part of King David's psalm of thanksgiving, recorded in [1 Chronicles 16:8-36](/1-chronicles/16-8 "1 Chronicles 16:8-36 - David's Psalm of Thanksgiving"). This psalm is a composite, drawing heavily from [Psalm 105:1-15](/psalm/105-1 "Psalm 105:1-15 - God's Faithfulness to His Covenant"), [Psalm 96:1-13](/psalm/96-1 "Psalm 96:1-13 - A Call to Worship the Lord"), and [Psalm 106:1, 47-48](/psalm/106-1 "Psalm 106:1, 47-48 - Praise for God's Steadfast Love"). It was recited during the momentous occasion of bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, a central event described in [1 Chronicles 15](/1-chronicles/15 "1 Chronicles 15 - The Ark Brought to Jerusalem"). The verses immediately preceding 16:27 call for all the earth to fear the Lord and declare His wonders ([1 Chronicles 16:23-26](/1-chronicles/16-23 "1 Chronicles 16:23-26 - Declare His Salvation Daily")), setting the stage for this declaration of His inherent attributes.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem was a monumental event, signifying the establishment of Jerusalem as both the political and religious capital of Israel under David's reign. The Ark, representing God's presence among His people, had been largely absent from public worship since its capture by the Philistines and subsequent return ([1 Samuel 4-7](/1-samuel/4 "1 Samuel 4-7 - The Ark Captured and Returned")). David's meticulous preparations for its arrival, including the appointment of Levites for musical ministry ([1 Chronicles 15:16-24](/1-chronicles/15-16 "1 Chronicles 15:16-24 - Levites Appointed for Music")), underscore the immense cultural and spiritual significance of the event. The public recitation of this psalm was a communal act of worship, designed to instill reverence, joy, and national identity rooted in God's covenant faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within [1 Chronicles](/1-chronicles/1 "1 Chronicles - The Reign of David"):
* **Divine Attributes:** It explicitly declares that "Glory and honour" are intrinsic to God's presence, highlighting His majestic splendor, weighty significance, and inherent worth. Similarly, "strength and gladness" are found in His 'place,' denoting His omnipotence, sovereign power, and the profound, unadulterated joy that characterizes His very being and His relationship with His people.
* **The Nature of God's Presence:** The verse teaches that true glory, honor, strength, and lasting joy do not originate from human achievement, earthly possessions, or political power, but exclusively from God alone. To be in His presence or 'place' is to encounter these divine realities, which transform and sustain those who draw near.
* **Worship and Rejoicing:** This declaration underscores that genuine worship is not merely solemn reverence but also a jubilant celebration of God's character and His active presence. The attributes of strength and gladness found in His place invite worshippers to rejoice and find true delight in Him, echoing the sentiment that there is [fullness of joy in God's presence](/psalm/16-11 "Psalm 16:11 - Fullness of Joy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glory (Hebrew, כָּבוֹד _kavod_):** This term literally means "weight" or "heaviness," but in a theological context, it refers to the inherent, substantial, and awe-inspiring greatness of God. It encompasses His majesty, splendor, reputation, and divine radiance. When "glory" is in His presence, it signifies that God Himself is the source of all true worth and splendor, not something external attributed to Him.
* **Presence (Hebrew, פָּנִים _panim_):** Literally meaning "face," this word denotes direct, intimate proximity or a personal encounter. It implies being "before" God, in His immediate sight and sphere of being. The attributes of glory and honor are not merely abstract concepts but are tangibly experienced by those who draw near to His very person.
* **Gladness (Hebrew, גִּילָה _gila_):** This term signifies exultation, jubilant rejoicing, and profound joy. It describes an overflowing, expressive delight. Its pairing with "strength" suggests that the joy found in God's place is not superficial but robust, enduring, and empowering, a deep wellspring of delight that fortifies the soul.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Glory and honour [are] in his presence":** This clause declares that intrinsic to God's very being and immediate proximity are majesty and dignity. "Glory" (_kavod_) speaks to His inherent weight, His substantial greatness, and the radiant splendor that emanates from Him. "Honour" (_hadar_) refers to His majestic beauty, splendor, and dignity. These are not external decorations but are inherent qualities of God Himself, revealed and experienced in His direct "presence" (_panim_), implying a personal, face-to-face encounter or intimate communion.
* **"strength and gladness [are] in his place":** This second clause complements the first by stating that divine power and profound joy reside in God's "place" (_maqom_), which can refer to His dwelling (like the Ark's tabernacle), His sphere of influence, or simply wherever He is manifest. "Strength" (_oz_) denotes His mighty power, His ability to act decisively and victoriously. "Gladness" (_gila_) signifies exuberant, overflowing joy. The pairing suggests that God's power is not oppressive but liberating, and that His very being is characterized by a joyous vitality that He imparts to those who enter His domain.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truths. **Synonymous Parallelism** is prominently featured, with "Glory and honour" paralleling "strength and gladness," and "in his presence" paralleling "in his place." This technique reinforces and deepens the meaning, showing that these divine attributes are inextricably linked and universally present wherever God is. The use of **Merism** can also be observed, where "Glory and honour" encompass the full spectrum of God's majestic and dignified nature, while "strength and gladness" represent the entirety of His powerful and joyous character. These attributes are not merely abstract concepts but are presented as tangible realities that "are" (exist) in His sphere, almost as if they are **personified** as dwelling within His immediate vicinity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 16:27 offers a foundational theological truth: God is the singular source of all that is truly glorious, honorable, strong, and joyful. This verse underscores the concept of God's self-sufficiency and His overflowing goodness, from which all blessings flow. It teaches that human flourishing and true fulfillment are found not in striving for these qualities independently, but in drawing near to the One who embodies them perfectly. It elevates worship beyond mere ritual, transforming it into an encounter with the very essence of divine power and delight, inviting believers to seek God's presence as the ultimate wellspring of life.

* [Psalm 27:4](/psalm/27-4 "Psalm 27:4 - Dwelling in God's House")
* [Psalm 16:11](/psalm/16-11 "Psalm 16:11 - Fullness of Joy")
* [Exodus 33:14](/exodus/33-14 "Exodus 33:14 - God's Presence Gives Rest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, 1 Chronicles 16:27 serves as a timeless anchor, directing our gaze to the true source of all that is good and enduring. It reminds us that the pursuit of glory, honor, strength, and lasting gladness outside of God is ultimately futile, for these attributes are inherent to His being and flow from His presence. This understanding transforms our approach to life and worship: instead of striving to accumulate these qualities, we are invited to simply draw near to Him, to abide in His "place," and to receive them as gifts. It offers profound encouragement in moments of weakness or sorrow, assuring us that true strength and an unshakeable joy are always accessible in His presence, regardless of external circumstances. This verse calls us to cultivate a life centered on seeking God's face, knowing that in Him, we find not just solace, but an abundant, vibrant, and deeply satisfying reality.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that "Glory and honour are in his presence" reshape your view of God and your approach to worship?**
* **In what practical ways can you intentionally seek God's "place" to experience His strength and gladness in your daily life?**
* **How does the truth that strength and gladness originate from God alone challenge worldly pursuits of these qualities, and what does this mean for your priorities?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the distinction between "presence" and "place" in this verse?**

Answer: While "presence" (Hebrew: _panim_, literally "face") and "place" (Hebrew: _maqom_) are closely related and often used interchangeably in poetic parallelism, they carry subtle yet significant distinctions in this verse. "Presence" emphasizes the intimate, personal, and direct encounter with God's very being—the experience of being "before His face." It speaks to the relational aspect of encountering God, where His glory and honor are directly perceived. "Place," on the other often refers to a physical location where God manifests Himself (like the tabernacle or temple), but it can also signify His broader sphere of influence, His domain, or simply "where He is" in a more general sense. The distinction highlights that God's attributes are found both in direct, personal communion (His presence) and wherever His sovereign rule and manifest power extend (His place). Both terms underscore that these divine attributes are not abstract but are tangibly experienced by those who draw near to Him, whether in intimate worship or by recognizing His hand in the world, as seen in [Psalm 139:7-10](/psalm/139-7 "Psalm 139:7-10 - God's Omnipresence").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The declaration of God's glory, honor, strength, and gladness in His presence finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament longing for God's manifest presence, symbolized by the Ark, is fully realized in the Incarnation, where God literally tabernacled among us in the person of Jesus ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")), embodying all the glory and honor that reside in the Father. Through Christ's atoning work, believers are no longer limited by physical access to a tabernacle but have direct access to God's presence by the Spirit ([Ephesians 2:18](/ephesians/2-18 "Ephesians 2:18 - Access to the Father Through Christ")), enabling them to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace" ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). Furthermore, the strength and gladness promised in God's "place" are now experienced by believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who empowers us and fills us with "joy and peace in believing" ([Romans 15:13](/romans/15-13 "Romans 15:13 - Joy and Peace in Believing")) and produces the fruit of "joy" as part of His work in us ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, 1 Chronicles 16:27 points forward to Christ as the living embodiment of God's attributes and the means by which humanity can truly enter into the fullness of His glorious, strong, and joyful presence.

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.