I Chronicles 29:2 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 29:2 Commentary: All My Might
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
David's exhaustive listing of temple materials reveals wholehearted preparation. This study explores what it means to give to God's work with all one's ability.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David declares he has prepared materials for the temple with all his strength, each metal and stone assigned to its proper use.
- Key words: Kõhi (my power/might) paired with hakhīnoti (I have prepared) underscores the intensity of effort.
- Main debate: Identification of specific stones (onyx, alabaster, antimony) is uncertain, but commentators agree they were precious.
- Theological theme: Wholehearted stewardship: supporting God’s work with energy and purpose, even when you cannot be the one to complete it.
- Best use: Stewardship sermons, vision-casting for building projects, and modelling generous leadership.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
KJV King James Version 1769
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and with all my power I have prepared for the house of my God, the gold for things of gold, and the silver for those of silver, and the brass for those of brass, the iron for those of iron, and the wood for those of wood, shoham stones, and settings, and stones of painting and of diverse colours, and all kinds of precious stone, and stones of white marble, in abundance.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And I have prepared according to all my power for the house of my God gold for [things of] gold, and silver for [things of] silver, and brass for [things of] brass, iron for [things of] iron, and wood for [things of] wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and white marble in abundance.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I with all my ability have prepared the expenses for the house of my God. Gold for vessels of gold, and silver for vessels of silver, brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood: and onyx stones, and stones like alabaster, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble of Paros in great abundance.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Yo empero con todas mis fuerzas he preparado para la casa de mi Dios, oro para las cosas de oro, y plata para las cosas de plata, y metal para las de metal, y hierro para las de hierro, y madera para las de madera, y piedras oniquinas, y piedras preciosas, y piedras negras, y piedras de diversos colores, y toda suerte de piedras preciosas, y piedras de mármol en abundancia.
Eu, porém, com todas as minhas forças preparei, para a casa de meu Deus, ouro para as coisas de ouro, e prata para as coisas de prata, e bronze para as de bronze, e ferro para as de ferro, e madeira para as de madeira, e pedras de ônix, e pedras decorativas, e pedras negras, e pedras de diversas cores, e toda sorte de pedras preciosas, e pedras de mármore em abundância.
J’ ai mis toutes mes forces à préparer pour la maison de mon Dieu de l’ or pour ce qui doit être d’ or, de l’ argent pour ce qui doit être d’ argent, de l’ airain pour ce qui doit être d’ airain, du fer pour ce qui doit être de fer, et du bois pour ce qui doit être de bois, des pierres d’ onyx et des pierres à enchâsser, des pierres brillantes et de diverses couleurs, toutes sortes de pierres précieuses, et du marbre blanc en quantité.
Ich aber habe aus allen meinen Kräften zugerichtet zum Hause Gottes Gold zu goldenem, Silber zu silbernem, Erz zu erhernem, Eisen zu eisernem, Holz zu hölzernem Geräte, Onyxsteine und eingefaßte Steine, Rubine und bunte Steine und allerlei Edelsteine und Marmelsteine die Menge.
Ik heb nu uit al mijn kracht bereid tot het huis mijns Gods, goud tot gouden, en zilver tot zilveren, en koper tot koperen, ijzer tot ijzeren, en hout tot houten werken; sardonixstenen en vervullende stenen, versierstenen en borduursel, en allerlei kostelijke stenen, en marmerstenen in menigte.
Ora io ho impiegato tutte le mie forze a preparare per la casa del mio Dio dell’oro per ciò che dev’esser d’oro, dell’argento per ciò che deve esser d’argento, del rame per ciò che dev’esser di rame, del ferro per ciò che dev’esser di ferro, e del legname per ciò che dev’esser di legno, delle pietre d’onice e delle pietre da incastonare, delle pietre brillanti e di diversi colori, ogni specie di pietre preziose, e del marmo bianco in gran quantità.
Ja według najwyższego przemożenia mego nagotowałem na dom Boga mego złota, na naczynie złote, i srebra na srebrne, i miedzi na miedziane, żelaza na żelazne, i drzewa na drewniane, kamienia onychynowego na osadzanie, i kamienia karbunkułowego, i ro zlicznych farb, a wszelakiego kamienia drogiego, i kamienia marmurowego dostatek wielki.
Всеми силами я заготовил для дома Бога моего золото для золотых вещей и серебро для серебряных, и медь для медных, железо для железных, и дерева для деревянных, камни оникса и камни вставные, камни красивые и разноцветные, и всякие дорогие камни, и множество мрамора;
我為我 神 的殿 已經盡 力，預備 金子 做金器，銀子 做銀器，銅 做銅器，鐵 做鐵器，木 做木器，還有紅瑪瑙 可鑲嵌 的寶 石，彩石 和一切的 寶 石，並許多 漢白玉。
Now as far as I am able, I have made ready what is needed for the house of my God; the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the silver things, and the brass for the brass things, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; beryls and jewels to be framed, and stones of different colours for ornament; all sorts of stones of great price, and polished building-stone, as much as is needed and more.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 29:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that David's words here are not a mere inventory but a declaration of wholehearted devotion. Gill points out that each material had its specific purpose: gold for lampstands and tables, silver for basins, bronze for the altar, iron for nails and hinges, wood for rafters and floors. Wesley draws the key principle: work for God must be done with all our might, or we will bring nothing to pass. Keil and Delitzsch note that the phrase with all my might (Hebrew bʼkhol-kõhi) appears in the context of David's earlier preparations in 1 Chronicles 22:14, where he prepared despite his own affliction. The consensus is clear: David could not build the temple himself, but he could prepare for it with every ounce of strength he had, and that preparation was itself an act of worship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: David prepared materials for the temple with all his strength and gave specific thought to each item's purpose, demonstrating that wholehearted effort in God's work is itself an act of worship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'with all my might' | Christians agree that David gave his maximum effort, not a token sum. | Some traditions stress that such language applies to all believers materially; others see it as a unique description of royal generosity. |
| The purpose of the materials list | All agree the list shows careful, intentional stewardship, every item has a designated use. | Whether the list is a literal inventory or a stylized summary is discussed; but the point of abundance is not contested. |
| The nature of the stones | The stones were precious and costly, fit for God's house. | Exact identifications vary: onyx as beryl (Cambridge), alabaster vs. Parian marble, and whether 'glistering stones' means black antimony or a luminous stone. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits inside David's final public speech to the gathered leaders of Israel (1 Chronicles 29). He has just been told he cannot build the house of God because he is a man of war (1 Chronicles 22:8). Yet instead of stepping back, he throws his full energy into gathering materials. The speech is the climax of chapters 22-28, where David hands over the plans and the resources to Solomon.
The list of materials deliberately echoes the tabernacle construction in Exodus 25-31 and 35-39. Where the tabernacle had onyx stones for the ephod and breastpiece (Exodus 25:7, 35:9), David also provides onyx stones and stones for settings. The repetition of the phrase “gold for the gold, silver for the silver” matches the phrasing in 1 Chronicles 28:14, reinforcing that David is giving according to a precise plan he received from God (1 Chronicles 28:19).
The word for “marble stones” (Hebrew shayish) appears only here in the Old Testament. Clarke and the Vulgate connect it to Parian marble, the pure white stone from the Greek island of Paros used in classical sculpture. Josephus, as Clarke notes, describes the temple as built of large blocks of white marble that produced a splendid appearance. But other commentators, including Barnes, suggest it may have been alabaster from near Damascus. What is not debated is that these were costly, beautiful stones fit for a palace of God.
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the temple is called “the palace” (habbirah) in verse 1, a word used elsewhere for the Persian king’s residence. David is building a house not for man but for Yahweh, the King of Israel. The exhaustive list of metals and stones makes the point: nothing is too good or too costly for the dwelling place of God.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew is stable across manuscripts. The main differences in English translations concern the identification of the precious stones, which is a lexical rather than a textual issue.
Reception History
Since the early church, 1 Chronicles 29:2 has been read as a model of generous provision for worship. John Chrysostom and later Reformers like Matthew Henry used the verse to illustrate that wholehearted giving begins with the heart. In Protestant traditions, it has been a key text for stewardship campaigns and building funds. Catholic exegetes have also pointed to David’s preparation as foreshadowing the Church’s care for sacred space and art. Across traditions, the verse encourages the view that no act of preparation for God’s glory is wasted, even if the preparer does not see the completion.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Preparation is devotion, not accumulation. David does not say “I have collected” but “I have prepared with all my might.” The heart behind the gift matters more than the gift itself.
- Every material has its use. Gold for the gold work, silver for silver, bronze for bronze. David gave thought and purpose to each item. God’s work deserves careful, not careless, giving.
- You are never too old or disqualified to contribute. David could not build, but he could prepare. Many tasks in God’s kingdom require the hands of those who will not see the finished product.
Five-point outline
- God’s work demands preparation (1 Chronicles 22:5, 29:2).
- Preparation involves personal sacrifice. David gave from his own private treasure (v.3).
- No role is too small. David did the behind-the-scenes work of gathering resources.
- One person’s generosity inspires others. The people responded willingly (v.6,9).
- The ultimate audience is God. The temple is for “Yahweh God” (v.1), not for human praise.
Illustration hooks
- A retired contractor draws up building plans for a new church sanctuary, knowing he may not be alive when it is finished.
- A grandmother knits blankets for a mission trip she will never join. Each stitch is preparation.
- A congregation sets aside a fund for a future building project, year after year, trusting that the generation to come will break ground.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why should I give to a project I may not see completed?
- Does God care about the amount I give, or just the attitude?
- How do I keep from feeling that my small contribution doesn’t matter?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is part of David’s last speech to Israel’s leaders. He is publicly handing off the temple project and calling the people to join him in giving. The list of materials is not just data; it is evidence of a heart fully engaged with God’s house. As you read the passage together, notice the tone: David does not demand. He invites.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase “with all my might“ tell you about how David approached this task?
- The list pairs each metal with its intended use. Why is this specificity important? What does it show about David’s planning?
- How does David’s preparation fit with the fact that he was not allowed to build the temple?
- Read verse 3 afterward. David gave from his own personal treasure on top of the public materials. What does this teach about generosity?
- In what areas of life might God be calling you to “prepare” even if you will not see the final outcome?
- How does this passage connect to the New Testament idea of giving cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7)?
- What would change in your local church if every member gave with “all their might”?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 2:12 | and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there. |
| Exodus 28:17 | You shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row; |
| Exodus 28:20 | and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings. |
| Exodus 39:6 | They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel. |
| Exodus 39:13 | and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings. |
| I Chronicles 22:3 | David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings, and bronze in abundance without weight, |
| I Chronicles 22:5 | David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death. |
| I Chronicles 22:14 | Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for Yahweh’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the marble stones as the prized Parian marble from the Cyclades, known for its brilliant whiteness and use in antiquity's finest works. He confirms this through the Chaldee translation, the Vulgate rendering, and Josephus's description of the temple's gleaming white marble blocks.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that the "glistering stones" were not sparkling but colored or dark stones, similar in hue to the antimony used for eye makeup. The "marble stones" were white stones, likely alabaster from near Damascus. He points to the account in 2 Chronicles for the specific use of these stones in the temple.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that the Revised Version corrects several English terms to match the Hebrew more closely: "things of gold" replaces "things to be made of gold," and "stones for inlaid work" replaces "glistering stones." The note also links "with all my might" to the parallel phrase "in my affliction" from 1 Chronicles 22:14.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill catalogues each material David prepared, drawing on Jewish commentators and ancient historians to identify obscure terms like "glistering stones" (perhaps emeralds or a reflective stone) and "marble stones" (Parian marble). He emphasises the extraordinary variety and abundance, showing that David spared nothing in his exhaustive effort to beautify God’s house.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight that David calls the temple a "palace" (birah), a term normally used for a royal residence, because it is the dwelling of Yahweh as Israel's divine King. They also carefully distinguish the five kinds of precious stones listed, explaining their Hebrew descriptions such as "stones of filling" for settings and "stones of pigment" for black ornamental stones.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that the Chronicler deliberately omits David's youthful struggles, sins, and sufferings, presenting only the glorious king in his prime. His aim is to paint David as a type of Christ, collecting every bright trait to show the theocratic kingdom at its zenith.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights how David's personal affection for God's house moved him to give generously from his own wealth, beyond what he prepared from public stores. David's example and challenge stirred the people to offer with perfect hearts, and both king and congregation rejoiced together in the freewill offering.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley insists that serving God demands our full strength; half-hearted effort will achieve nothing. The point is practical and blunt: we cannot expect results in spiritual work if we hold back our energy or commitment.