TRV
Translation
King James Version
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,
World English Bible Messianic
In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
Geneva Bible (1599)
Moreouer, because I haue delite in the house of my God, I haue of mine owne golde and siluer, which I haue giuen to the house of my God, beside all that I haue prepared for the house of the Sanctuarie,
Young's Literal Translation
`And again, because of my delighting in the house of my God, the substance I have--a peculiar treasure of gold and silver--I have given for the house of my God, even over and above all I have prepared for the house of the sanctuary:
See also
In the KJVVerse 11,168 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 29 verses 1–9
1 ¶ Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
3 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,
4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,
7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
We may here observe,
I. How handsomely David spoke to the great men of Israel, to engage them to contribute towards the building of the temple. It is our duty to provoke one another to love and to good works, not only to do good ourselves, but to draw in others to do good too as much as we can. There were many very rich men in Israel; they were all to share in the benefit of the temple, and of those peaceable days which were to befriend the building of it; and therefore, though David would not impose on them, as a tax, what they should give towards it, he would recommend the present as a fair occasion for a free-will offering, because what is done in works of piety and charity should be done willingly and not by constraint; for God loves a cheerful giver. 1. He would have them consider that Solomon was young and tender, and needed help; but that he was the person whom God had chosen to do this work, and therefore was well worthy their assistance. It is good service to encourage those in the work of God that are as yet young and tender. 2. That the world was great, and all hands should contribute to the carrying of it on. The palace to be built was not for man, but for the Lord God; and the more was contributed towards the building the more magnificent it would be, and therefore the better would it answer the intention. 3. He tells them what great preparations had been made for this work. He did not intend to throw all the burden upon them, nor that it should be built wholly by contributions, but that they should show their good will, by adding to what was done (Ch1 29:2): I have prepared with all my might, that is, "I have made it my business." Work for God must be done with all our might, or we shall bring nothing to pass in it. 4. He sets them a good example. Besides what was dedicated to this service out of the spoils and presents of the neighbouring nations, which was for the building of the house (of which before, Ch1 22:14), he had, out of his own share, offered largely for the beautifying and enriching of it, 3000 talents of gold and 7000 talents of silver (Ch1 29:4, Ch1 29:5), and this because he had set his affection on the house of his God. He gave all this, not as Papists build churches, in commutation of penance, or to make atonement for sin, nor as Pharisees give alms, to be seen of men; but purely because he loved the habitation of God's house; so he professed (Psa 26:8) and here he proved it. Those who set their affection upon the service of God will think no pains nor cost too much to bestow upon it; and then our offerings are pleasing to God when they come from love. Those that set their affection on things above will set their affection on the house of God, through which our way to heaven lies. Now this he gives them an account of, to stir them up to do likewise. Note, Those who would draw others to do that which is good must themselves lead. Those especially who are advanced above others in place and dignity should particularly contrive how to make their light shine before men, because the influence of their example is more powerful and extensive than that of other people. 5. He stirs them up to do as he had done (Ch1 29:5): And who then is willing to concentrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1.) We must each of us, in our several places, serve the Lord, and consecrate our service to him, separate it from other things that are foreign and interfere with it, and direct and design it for the honour and glory of God. (2.) We must make the service of God our business, must fill our hands to the Lord, so the Hebrew phrase is. Those who engage themselves in the service of God will have their hands full; there is work enough for the whole man in that service. The filling of our hands with the service of God intimates that we must serve him only, serve him liberally, and serve him in the strength of grace derived from him. (3.) We must be free herein, do it willingly and speedily, do it this day, when we are in a good mind. Who is willing? Now let him show it.
II. How handsomely they all contributed towards the building of the temple when they were thus stirred up to it. Though they were persuaded to it, yet it is said, They offered willingly, Ch1 29:6. So he said who knew their hearts. Nay, they offered with a perfect heart, from a good principle and with a sincere respect to the glory of God, Ch1 29:9. How generous they were appears by the sum total of the contributions, Ch1 29:7, Ch1 29:8. They gave like themselves, like princes, like princes of Israel. And a pleasant day's work it was; for, 1. The people rejoiced, which may be meant of the people themselves that offered: they were glad of the opportunity of honouring God thus with their substance, and glad of the prospect of bringing this good work to perfection. Or the common people rejoiced in the generosity of their princes, that they had such rulers over them as were forward to this good work. Every Israelite is glad to see temple work carried on with vigour. 2. David rejoiced with great joy to see the good effects of his psalms and the other helps of devotion he had furnished them with, rejoiced that his son and successor would have those about him that were so well affected to the house of God, and that this work, upon which his heart was so much set, was likely to go on. Note, It is a great reviving to good men, when they are leaving the world, to see those they leave behind zealous for religion and likely to keep it up. Lord, now let thou thy servant depart in peace.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–9. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
King David, driven by profound personal devotion to God's dwelling place, declares his extraordinary contribution 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
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey David's profound commitment and inspire the assembly. The most prominent is Repetition, specifically the phrase "house of my God," which appears twice. This repetition serves to underscore David's deep personal ownership, spiritual connection, and unwavering focus on 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, 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 compelling model for the assembly to emulate in their own giving. 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, directly linking David's inner devotion to his outward, extravagant 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.
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
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. 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 in the ancient world, typically approximating 75 pounds (or about 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 supremely in the person of Jesus, who is God incarnate, dwelling among us. Jesus Himself declared that something greater than the Temple was present in Him (Matthew 12:6), and His own body became the true Temple, destroyed and raised in three days (John 2:19-21). David's "affection for the house of my God" foreshadows Christ's divine zeal for His Father's house, a zeal that led Him to cleanse the Temple and ultimately to offer Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14). 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), and of Christ, who, though rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Ultimately, the Church, the body of believers, becomes the spiritual Temple where God now dwells by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22), built not with gold and silver, but with living stones, purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb (1 Peter 2:5).