1 Chronicles 28:3
1 Chronicles 28:3 in Multiple Translations
but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has spilled blood.’
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.
But God said to me, You are not to be the builder of a house for my name, because you are a man of war and have taken life;
But God told me, ‘You are not to build a house to honor me because you are a man of war who has spilled blood.’
But God sayde vnto me, Thou shalt not buylde an house for my Name, because thou hast bene a man of warre, and hast shed blood.
and God hath said to me, Thou dost not build a house to My name, for a man of wars thou [art], and blood thou hast shed.
But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’
But God said to me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
And God said to me: Thou shalt not build a house to my name: because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.
But God said to me, ‘You are not the one who will arrange to build a temple for me [MTY], because you are a warrior and you have killed many people [MTY] in battles.’
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Chronicles 28:3
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1 Chronicles 28:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Chronicles 28:3
Study Notes — 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Chronicles 28:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Chronicles 28:3
- Sermons on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Context — David Commissions Solomon
3but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has shed blood.’
4Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Chronicles 22:8 | but this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and waged great wars. You are not to build a house for My Name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 17:4 | “Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build Me a house in which to dwell. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 6:8–9 | But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’ |
| 4 | 1 Kings 5:3 | “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 7:5–13 | “Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’ Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land. And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you. And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. |
1 Chronicles 28:3 Summary
[This verse tells us that God did not allow David to build the temple because of his past as a warrior. God wanted someone with a cleaner record to build a house for Him. This teaches us that God is holy and desires those who serve Him to be holy too, as seen in Leviticus 11:44-45. It also reminds us that our past mistakes do not disqualify us from serving God, but rather, it is our response to those mistakes and our willingness to follow Him that matters.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God not allow David to build the temple?
God did not allow David to build the temple because he was a man of war who had spilled blood, as stated in 1 Chronicles 28:3, which aligns with the principle that God desires those who serve Him to have clean hands and a pure heart, as seen in Psalms 24:3-4.
Does this mean that people who have been involved in war or violence cannot serve God?
No, it does not mean that, as evident from the story of David himself, who was a man after God's own heart, according to Acts 13:22, and was still used mightily by God, even though he had been involved in war and had made mistakes.
What is the significance of God saying 'you are a man of war who has spilled blood'?
This statement highlights the importance of holiness and purity in serving God, as also emphasized in Isaiah 52:11, where God commands His people to depart from unclean things, and not to touch any unclean thing, so that they may be bearers of the vessels of the Lord.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of God's kingdom and leadership?
This verse shows that God is very particular about who He chooses to lead and serve Him, as seen in the way He chose Solomon, a man of peace, to build the temple, according to 1 Chronicles 28:5, and it emphasizes the importance of humility and obedience in leadership, as taught in Matthew 20:26-28.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be 'spilling blood' or causing harm to others, and how can I make amends and seek forgiveness?
- How can I, like David, acknowledge my limitations and weaknesses, and trust God to use me despite them?
- In what ways can I prioritize holiness and purity in my own life, and how can I seek to be a 'vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work', as described in 2 Timothy 2:21?
- What does it mean for me to be a 'man or woman of peace' in a world filled with conflict and violence, and how can I reflect the heart of God in my relationships and interactions with others?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Cambridge Bible on 1 Chronicles 28:3
Sermons on 1 Chronicles 28:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
'The Value of a Thought' by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar emphasizes the immense value of a single thought when it is acted upon, illustrating this with the creation of a model of the Tabernacle that he built over many years. |

