1 Chronicles 29:3

KJV

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, [which] I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover, because I have set my affection {H7521} to the house {H1004} of my God {H430}, I have {H3426} of mine own proper good {H5459}, of gold {H2091} and silver {H3701}, which I have given {H5414} to the house {H1004} of my God {H430}, over and above {H4605} all that I have prepared {H3559} for the holy {H6944} house {H1004},

Complete Jewish Bible

In addition, because my desire is set on the house of my God, since I have my own supply of gold and silver, I herewith give it to the house of my God - over and above everything I have prepared for the holy house -

Berean Standard Bible

Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple:

American Standard Version

Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
King David, nearing the end of his life, declares his profound personal devotion to God's dwelling place by contributing an extraordinary amount of gold and silver from his own private wealth for the construction of the Temple. This lavish, voluntary offering is presented as distinct from and in addition to the vast resources he had already amassed from the national treasury for the holy house, serving as a powerful testament to his deep love for God and an inspiring example for the Israelite assembly.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 1 Chronicles 29:3 is situated within David's final public address to the entire assembly of Israel, including princes, commanders, and mighty men, as recorded in [1 Chronicles 28-29](/1-chronicles/28 "1 Chronicles 28-29 - David's Final Instructions and Preparations"). This climactic speech serves as David's spiritual and administrative legacy, ensuring the seamless transition of power to Solomon and the continuation of the divine mandate to build the Temple. Having been divinely prohibited from constructing the Temple himself due to his history of warfare, as detailed in [1 Chronicles 22:8](/1-chronicles/22-8 "1 Chronicles 22:8 - God Forbids David from Building the Temple"), David dedicated years to meticulously preparing materials and plans. In this verse, David shifts from discussing the national contributions and his official preparations to highlighting a deeply personal, sacrificial act of giving, setting the stage for his subsequent challenge to the people to follow his example in [1 Chronicles 29:5](/1-chronicles/29-5 "1 Chronicles 29:5 - David Challenges the People to Give").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The construction of a central sanctuary was paramount to Israel's national and religious identity, symbolizing God's covenant presence among His people. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings were expected to undertake grand building projects, often for their own glory or that of their patron deities. However, David's motivation here transcends mere royal duty. His personal contribution from "mine own proper good" signifies wealth acquired through his personal endeavors, distinct from the royal treasury or spoils of war that belonged to the state. This act would have been understood by the assembly as an extraordinary demonstration of piety and leadership, as it went beyond the expected role of a monarch to provide for public works. It also underscored the principle that even the king was subject to the divine economy and called to personal devotion.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of Chronicles and biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Profound Devotion and Love for God's House**, revealing David's intense personal affection and spiritual commitment to the place where God's presence would dwell, echoing his psalmic longing in [Psalm 27:4](/psalms/27-4 "Psalm 27:4 - David's Desire for God's House"). Secondly, it exemplifies **Generous and Sacrificial Giving**, demonstrating that true worship involves not just adherence to ritual but also a willing, extravagant contribution of personal resources, "over and above" what is merely expected. This anticipates later New Testament teachings on cheerful giving found in [2 Corinthians 9:7](/2-corinthians/9-7 "2 Corinthians 9:7 - God Loves a Cheerful Giver"). Thirdly, David's public declaration serves as a powerful instance of **Leading by Example**, inspiring the entire assembly to respond with their own joyful and wholehearted contributions, as recorded in [1 Chronicles 29:9](/1-chronicles/29-9 "1 Chronicles 29:9 - The People's Joyful and Willing Offering"). Finally, it underscores the theme of **Stewardship**, as David implicitly acknowledges that all his wealth ultimately belongs to God, and his giving is merely returning a portion of God's blessing for God's purposes, a concept he articulates explicitly in [1 Chronicles 29:14](/1-chronicles/29-14 "1 Chronicles 29:14 - David's Prayer of Acknowledgment of God's Sovereignty").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Affection (Hebrew, _'ahav_):** The KJV phrase "set my affection" translates the Hebrew participle "אוֹהֲבִי" (*'ohavi*), derived from the verb אָהַב (*'ahav*), meaning "to love." This is a crucial nuance. It's not merely a mental decision to "set" affection, but an expression of David's deep, existing, and active love for the house of God. It signifies a profound emotional and spiritual attachment, indicating that his subsequent giving was not out of duty or obligation, but flowed directly from a heart brimming with devotion. This personal love is the wellspring of his extraordinary generosity.
* **Proper good (Hebrew, _chayil_):** The term "חַיִל" (*chayil*) is rich in meaning, encompassing strength, wealth, substance, virtue, and even a valiant army. In this context, it refers to David's personal, privately accumulated wealth or substance, distinct from the national treasury or royal coffers. This emphasizes that his contribution was not merely a reallocation of state funds but a deeply personal sacrifice from his own acquired resources, highlighting the depth of his commitment.
* **Over and above (Hebrew, _levad mikol_):** The Hebrew phrase "לְבַד מִכֹּל" (*levad mikol*) literally means "apart from all" or "besides all." This prepositional phrase strongly emphasizes the additional and distinct nature of David's personal gift. It clarifies that this specific donation of gold and silver was separate from, and in addition to, the immense preparations and resources he had already gathered from the kingdom's wealth for the Temple project. It underscores the extraordinary, supererogatory nature of his personal generosity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God,"**: This opening clause establishes the profound motivation behind David's subsequent action. His giving is not a mere obligation or a display of wealth, but a direct consequence of his deep, personal love and devotion ("affection" translating "my loving") for the Temple, which he intimately refers to as "the house of my God." This highlights the spiritual impulse behind his material contribution.
* **"I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver,"**: Here, David specifies the source and nature of his contribution. It comes "of mine own proper good," meaning from his personal, private wealth (his *chayil*), not from the public treasury. He further specifies the materials: "of gold and silver," indicating precious metals of significant value, emphasizing the lavishness and costliness of his personal offering.
* **"[which] I have given to the house of my God,"**: This clause states the direct action and recipient of his gift. The gold and silver from his personal fortune have been "given" (a completed action) specifically "to the house of my God," reinforcing the singular purpose of his generosity: the construction of the Temple. The repetition of "house of my God" underscores his personal connection to the sacred project.
* **"over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,"**: This concluding phrase clarifies the magnitude and distinctiveness of this particular donation. It was "over and above" (or "besides" / "apart from") the vast quantities of materials, skilled labor, and financial resources that David had already diligently "prepared" from the national wealth for the Temple. This emphasizes the extraordinary, sacrificial nature of his personal giving, distinguishing it from his official duties as king.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey David's profound commitment. The most prominent is **Emphasis** through repetition, as the phrase "house of my God" appears twice, underscoring David's personal ownership and deep spiritual connection to the Temple project. The phrase "mine own proper good" combined with "over and above all that I have prepared" functions as a form of **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration**, not to mislead, but to powerfully convey the extraordinary and sacrificial nature of David's personal contribution beyond his official duties. This also serves as an **Exemplum**, presenting David's actions as a model for the assembly to emulate. The verse's structure, beginning with the motivation ("because I have set my affection") and then detailing the action and its magnitude, creates a strong sense of **Causal Relationship**, linking David's inner devotion directly to his outward generosity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 29:3 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true worship and stewardship. David's personal, extravagant giving, motivated by deep affection for God's house, transcends mere obligation, embodying a heart wholly devoted to God's glory. It teaches that our most meaningful contributions are those that spring from a genuine love for God and His purposes, reflecting a recognition that all we possess ultimately belongs to Him. This act of sacrificial generosity foreshadows the New Testament principle that God delights in cheerful and willing givers, and that our material possessions are to be consecrated for His kingdom. David's example challenges believers to consider what they can give "over and above" what is expected, driven by a similar profound love for God's dwelling place – which, for the New Covenant believer, is the Church, the body of Christ, and indeed, our own redeemed selves as temples of the Holy Spirit.

* [Exodus 35:21](/exodus/35-21 "Exodus 35:21 - Willing Hearted Contributions for the Tabernacle")
* [Proverbs 3:9-10](/proverbs/3-9-10 "Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the Lord with Your Wealth")
* [2 Corinthians 9:7](/2-corinthians/9-7 "God Loves a Cheerful Giver")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's personal and extravagant giving in 1 Chronicles 29:3 offers a timeless blueprint for Christian living, particularly concerning our resources and devotion. His motivation—"because I have set my affection to the house of my God"—is paramount. It reminds us that our actions, especially those involving sacrifice, are most pleasing to God when they flow from a heart deeply in love with Him and His kingdom, rather than from a sense of duty, obligation, or a desire for recognition. This verse challenges us to move beyond merely meeting expectations to considering what we can give "over and above" from our "own proper good"—our personal time, talents, and treasures—as an overflow of our genuine devotion. It calls us to embrace a radical stewardship, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, to be joyfully deployed for His glory and the advancement of His purposes in the world, whether through supporting the local church, engaging in missions, or serving those in need. David's example inspires us to give not just from our abundance, but from our affection, making our giving an act of worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is the primary motivation behind my giving (of time, talent, or treasure) to God's work? Is it duty, or deep affection for His "house" (the Church, His people, His mission)?**
* **In what areas of my life can I identify "mine own proper good" that I could offer "over and above" what is expected or convenient?**
* **How does David's public declaration of his personal giving inspire or challenge my own practices of generosity and stewardship?**
* **If my heart truly "sets its affection" on God and His kingdom, how might that transform my priorities and resource allocation?**

### FAQ
**What was the total value of David's personal contribution mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: While 1 Chronicles 29:3 specifically mentions David's personal contribution of "gold and silver," the exact quantities are detailed in the subsequent verse, [1 Chronicles 29:4](/1-chronicles/29-4 "1 Chronicles 29:4 - David's Specific Personal Contribution"). There, David specifies 3,000 talents of gold of Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver. To put this into perspective, a talent was a significant unit of weight (approximately 75 pounds or 34 kilograms). This means David personally contributed an astounding 225,000 pounds (over 100 metric tons) of gold and 525,000 pounds (over 238 metric tons) of silver. These figures represent an immense, almost unfathomable, personal fortune, underscoring the extraordinary nature of his sacrificial giving "over and above" all his official preparations for the Temple.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's fervent desire to build a dwelling place for God, culminating in his extravagant personal sacrifice, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While David poured out his wealth to construct a physical Temple, God's ultimate dwelling among humanity is not in a building made with hands, but in the person of Jesus, who is [God incarnate, dwelling among us](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). Jesus declared Himself to be greater than the Temple ([Matthew 12:6](/matthew/12-6 "Matthew 12:6 - Something Greater Than the Temple")), and His body became the true Temple, destroyed and raised in three days ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")). David's "affection for the house of my God" foreshadows Christ's zeal for His Father's house, which led Him to cleanse the Temple and ultimately to offer Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Furthermore, David's sacrificial giving from his "own proper good" points to the infinitely greater, divine self-giving of God the Father, who "gave his only begotten Son" ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")) and of Christ, who, though rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2-corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Self-Impoverishment")). Ultimately, the Church, the body of believers, becomes the spiritual Temple where God now dwells by His Spirit ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19-22 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - The Church as God's Dwelling")), built not with gold and silver, but with living stones, purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb ([1 Peter 2:5](/1-peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones in a Spiritual House")).

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

1 Chronicles 21:24

And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take [that] which [is] thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

Psalms 122:1

¶ A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalms 122:9

Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

Proverbs 3:9

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Proverbs 3:10

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Psalms 84:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable [are] thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

1 Chronicles 22:4

Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.