Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 22:5
And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent—famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore I must make preparations for it.” So David made lavish preparations before his death.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks just before his death, explaining why he will not construct the temple himself. He states that Solomon is a youth and his strength is weak, so he must instead gather vast materials beforehand.
The words — נַ֣עַר (Na.'ar) literally means youth or boy, and וָ/רָךְ֒ (va./roKh) means weak or tender. These terms ground the text in Solomon’s physical and experiential immaturity rather than spiritual deficiency.
The thread — David reiterates Solomon’s youth in 1 Chronicles 29:1 and mirrors Solomon’s own self-description in 1 Kings 3:7. The succession pattern aligns with John 3:30, where the predecessor steps back to make room for the successor.
Why it lands — The text records David’s factual assessment of Solomon’s age and the resulting logistical response. It requires readers to separate personal capability from divine mandate and to prepare practically for those who will carry the work forward.
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 David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
- 1 Chronicles 29:1 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great because this palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
- John 3:30 He must increase; I must decrease.
- John 13:1 It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
- Deuteronomy 31:2 he said to them, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old; I am no longer able to come and go, and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’
- 1 Kings 9:8 And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
- 2 Chronicles 2:5 The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
- 2 Chronicles 7:21 And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.
- Ezra 3:12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.