· Translation: KJV

1 Chronicles 21:21As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

The setting

Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. A threshing floor on Mount Moriah (future Temple site). Ornan the Jebusite is working when he sees the king approaching with his entourage...

The emotion here: recording with historical precision the exact moment of reverence

The original word

shāchāh (שָׁחָה) — to prostrate oneself completely, face touching ground in worship or submission

Why it matters

This threshing floor was likely on the exact spot where Solomon would build the Temple

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 21:21

Ornan was a Jebusite - one of the original inhabitants David conquered, yet he shows complete respect

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about ancient customs, but Ornan was showing respect across ethnic lines - a former enemy honoring his conqueror with genuine reverence.

Bible Genome reading

1 Chronicles 21:21 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionworship
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power30%
Quotability40%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance30%
Standalone30%
Themes:respectreverence

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Chronicles 21

1 Chronicles 21:21 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include respect, reverence. Notable phrases: bowed himself to David; face to the ground.

Your reflection

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