Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage operates as a central exhortation within a corporate song of praise, positioned between calls to glory in God’s name and to remember His historical deeds.
The words — The text uses two distinct Hebrew verbs for seeking: דִּרְשׁ֤וּ (dir.Shu) = seek [H1875] and בַּקְּשׁ֥וּ (ba.ke.Shu) = seek [H1245], paired with פָנָ֖י/ו (fa.Na/v) = face/ his [H6440].
The thread — The command to seek God’s face echoes in Psalms 27:8, while the focus on divine strength aligns with Psalms 68:35.
Why it lands — The text commands continuous pursuit of Yahweh and His strength before drawing any inference about personal devotion. It requires readers to treat seeking God as a deliberate, ongoing practice rather than a sporadic emotional response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
Cross-references
- Psalms 27:8 My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
- Zephaniah 2:2 before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
- Psalms 68:35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
- Psalms 24:6 Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah
- Psalms 67:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
- Psalms 4:6 Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, and enter Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and may Your godly ones rejoice in goodness.
- Amos 5:6 Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.
- Psalms 78:61 He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.