Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 16:4
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records David’s administrative action immediately after distributing food to the gathered Israelites, formalizing worship personnel for the ark’s new location.
The words — וַ/יִּתֵּ֞ן (va/yitten) translates literally as “and he appointed,” while לִ/פְנֵ֨י (li/pene) establishes the spatial and relational context as “before” the ark of Yahweh.
The thread — David’s appointment of Levites for ark ministry aligns with the later priestly division recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:3 and reinforces the psalmistic emphasis on blessing Yahweh found in Psalms 72:18 and 103:2.
Why it lands — The text states that worship before God’s presence requires designated servants to celebrate and give thanks, directing readers to value ordered service over unstructured assembly.
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
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel:
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 24:3 With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
- Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
- Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—
- Psalms 105:5 Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,
- Psalms 106:48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
- Genesis 17:7 I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”
- Genesis 33:20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
- Numbers 18:1 So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.
- 1 Kings 8:15 and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,