1 Chronicles 21:24King David said to Ornan, "No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price. For I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering without cost."
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. King David stands on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, modern-day Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel. A plague has killed 70,000 Israelites because David conducted an unauthorized census...
The emotion here: grief-stricken but determined to honor God properly
The original word
chinam (חִנָּם) — for nothing, without cost, free of charge
Why it matters
This threshing floor became the exact location where Solomon built the Temple
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 21:24
Ornan offered everything FREE but David refused — worship that costs nothing is worthless
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about being generous to others, but David is establishing the principle that authentic worship requires personal sacrifice — you can't honor God with what costs you nothing.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Chronicles 21:24
Bible Genome reading
1 Chronicles 21:24 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Chronicles 21:24 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include integrity, worthy sacrifice. Notable phrases: buy it for the full price; not take that which is yours for Yahweh.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Chronicles 21:24 mean to you, today?
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