### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʼOrnân**, represented by `{{H771}}`, identifies a **Jebusite** man whose story is central to the establishment of the temple site in Jerusalem. Defined as "strong," the name appears **12 times** across **10 unique verses**, all within a single narrative sequence. Ornan is primarily known for owning the threshingfloor that King David purchased to build an altar to the LORD.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, Ornan's story unfolds during a moment of divine judgment. After a plague strikes Israel, the angel of the LORD stops his destruction at the **threshingfloor** of **Ornan** the Jebusite [[1 Chronicles 21:15]]. Ornan and his four sons witness the angel while threshing wheat and hide themselves [[1 Chronicles 21:20]]. Following the angel's command, King David approaches Ornan to purchase the site for an altar to stop the plague ([[1 Chronicles 21:18]], 21:22). Ornan generously offers not only the land but also the oxen for **burnt offerings** and the threshing instruments for **wood**, all for free [[1 Chronicles 21:23]]. David insists on paying the full price, stating he will not **offer** to the LORD something that is without cost [[1 Chronicles 21:24]]. David purchases the place for six hundred shekels of **gold** [[1 Chronicles 21:25]], and this very location becomes the site where Solomon would later **build** the house of the LORD [[2 Chronicles 3:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The narrative surrounding Ornan is connected to several key Hebrew words:
* `{{H1637}}` **gôren** (a threshing-floor): This is the central location of the account, the place that is transformed from a common work area into a site of sacred worship [[1 Chronicles 21:28]].
* `{{H2983}}` **Yᵉbûwçîy** (a Jebusite): This identifies Ornan's heritage as an inhabitant of Jebus, the city that became Jerusalem [[2 Chronicles 3:1]].
* `{{H4397}}` **malʼâk** (a messenger; angel): The appearance of the **angel** of the LORD at Ornan's threshingfloor is the divine act that sanctifies the location and initiates David's response [[1 Chronicles 21:15]].
* `{{H4196}}` **mizbêach** (an altar): The immediate purpose for acquiring the land was for David to **build** an **altar** to the LORD to atone for sin and end the plague [[1 Chronicles 21:22]].
### Theological Significance
The story of Ornan carries significant theological weight, establishing foundational principles for worship.
* **The Sanctification of Place:** Ornan's threshingfloor, a place of everyday labor, is divinely chosen and consecrated, becoming the future site of Mount **Moriah** where the temple would be built. This illustrates how God can elevate a common place to one of holy importance [[2 Chronicles 3:1]].
* **The Cost of Atonement:** David’s refusal to accept the site as a gift underscores the principle that true worship involves personal cost. He would not **offer** a sacrifice to God that he received for **nothing** [[1 Chronicles 21:24]], a foundational concept in sacrificial atonement.
* **A Site of Mercy:** The location is marked by God's mercy, as it is where He repented of the **evil** and stayed the hand of the destroying **angel** [[1 Chronicles 21:15]]. The subsequent sacrifice confirms it as a place where the LORD answers prayer [[1 Chronicles 21:28]].
### Summary
In summary, **ʼOrnân** `{{H771}}` is more than just a historical name; he is the individual whose property became the point of contact between divine judgment, royal repentance, and enduring mercy. The transaction over his **threshingfloor** is a pivotal moment in Israel's history, establishing the very ground for the house of the **LORD** in **Jerusalem**. The narrative powerfully illustrates the principles of costly worship and the transformation of a secular space into a sacred one, forever linking Ornan's name to the future of Israel's worship.
TRV