1 Chronicles 21:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David sees the angel with sword drawn over Jerusalem, and he and the elders fall on their faces in sackcloth.
What Does 1 Chronicles 21:16 Mean?
David lifts his eyes and sees the awesome sight: the angel standing between earth and heaven, sword stretched over Jerusalem. Clothed in sackcloth, the signs of grief and repentance, David and the elders fall on their faces before the Lord.
Beholding the danger his sin has summoned, the king does not flinch from sorrow but embraces it. Sackcloth and a face to the ground are the posture of a humbled heart. True repentance is not only words but the whole person bowed low. When we see clearly what sin costs, the only fitting response is to fall before the God who alone can lift us up again.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 21:16
What does 1 Chronicles 21:16 mean?
David sees the angel with sword drawn over Jerusalem, and he and the elders fall on their faces in sackcloth.