Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 29:20
Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses the whole assembly at the conclusion of his public dedication of temple resources. He speaks immediately after praying for Solomon’s faithful heart and just before the people present their sacrifices the following day.
The words — בָּרְכוּ (bar’khu) means “bless” or “praise,” commanding the gathering to give thanks to Yahweh. The particle נָא (na) functions as “please,” framing the imperative as a solemn, formal invitation.
The thread — The assembly’s collective blessing follows the pattern of Exodus 4:31, where Israel bows after recognizing God’s attention to their affliction. Their posture of homage aligns with the worship directive in Psalms 95:6 and the reverent bow recorded in Genesis 24:26.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that communal praise follows royal dedication and divine provision. It demands a direct response of gratitude and submission to both God and His appointed ruler.
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 to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.
Cross-references
- Exodus 4:31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
- Psalms 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
- Genesis 24:26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
- Genesis 24:48 Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD; and I blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
- 1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Psalms 134:2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD!
- Psalms 135:19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;
- Psalms 145:1 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.