This verse illustrates the suddenness of God’s intervention in human affairs.
One detail that stands out in 1 Chronicles 21:20 is the unexpected moment when “Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. And Ornan was threshing wheat” (v.20). In this single verse, we see ordinary life interrupted by a divine messenger, significantly altering Ornan’s perspective. The scene takes place near Jerusalem, in the vicinity of Ornan’s threshing floor. Jerusalem itself has a deep historical grounding, known as the city conquered and then established by King David, who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC. Ornan, described here as a Jebusite (elsewhere referred to as Araunah), lived when David was nearing the latter part of his reign—an era marked by both David’s prosperous leadership and moments of conflict.
When the verse says that Ornan “turned back and saw the angel” (v.20), it underscores the awe and fear triggered by the appearance of a heavenly being. Although the verse mentions that Ornan’s four sons fled and hid out of terror, it notably points to Ornan continuing his work of threshing wheat, seemingly willing to engage despite the angel’s presence. This sets up a key narrative framework in the surrounding passage: David had upset the LORD by executing a census (1 Chronicles 21:1-7), leading to a divine intervention through a plague and the appearance of the angel. God’s judgment, often linked to human wrongdoing, runs parallel to His mercy, as we see later in the account when David seeks to rectify his error and build an altar on Ornan’s threshing floor. This points ahead to the biblical principle of atonement, eventually perfected in Jesus Christ (referenced in the New Testament, Hebrews 10:14).
The mention of Ornan’s threshing floor also relates prophetically to location and worship. This threshing floor situated near Jerusalem becomes the site where God showcases both His judgment and His provision of a future place of sacrifice and communion. Ornan, a Jebusite, provides a link to Jerusalem’s pre-Israelite inhabitants, emphasizing the city’s blending of cultures before and after David’s conquest. Historically, Ornan’s posture of reverence and willingness to give up his property to honor God’s directive sets up the narrative of David’s devotion as well. Together, they highlight the broader truth that recognition of God’s sovereignty acts as a catalyst for obedience, a concept resonating throughout the Bible.
Set to dark mode
1 Chronicles 21:20 meaning
One detail that stands out in 1 Chronicles 21:20 is the unexpected moment when “Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. And Ornan was threshing wheat” (v.20). In this single verse, we see ordinary life interrupted by a divine messenger, significantly altering Ornan’s perspective. The scene takes place near Jerusalem, in the vicinity of Ornan’s threshing floor. Jerusalem itself has a deep historical grounding, known as the city conquered and then established by King David, who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC. Ornan, described here as a Jebusite (elsewhere referred to as Araunah), lived when David was nearing the latter part of his reign—an era marked by both David’s prosperous leadership and moments of conflict.
When the verse says that Ornan “turned back and saw the angel” (v.20), it underscores the awe and fear triggered by the appearance of a heavenly being. Although the verse mentions that Ornan’s four sons fled and hid out of terror, it notably points to Ornan continuing his work of threshing wheat, seemingly willing to engage despite the angel’s presence. This sets up a key narrative framework in the surrounding passage: David had upset the LORD by executing a census (1 Chronicles 21:1-7), leading to a divine intervention through a plague and the appearance of the angel. God’s judgment, often linked to human wrongdoing, runs parallel to His mercy, as we see later in the account when David seeks to rectify his error and build an altar on Ornan’s threshing floor. This points ahead to the biblical principle of atonement, eventually perfected in Jesus Christ (referenced in the New Testament, Hebrews 10:14).
The mention of Ornan’s threshing floor also relates prophetically to location and worship. This threshing floor situated near Jerusalem becomes the site where God showcases both His judgment and His provision of a future place of sacrifice and communion. Ornan, a Jebusite, provides a link to Jerusalem’s pre-Israelite inhabitants, emphasizing the city’s blending of cultures before and after David’s conquest. Historically, Ornan’s posture of reverence and willingness to give up his property to honor God’s directive sets up the narrative of David’s devotion as well. Together, they highlight the broader truth that recognition of God’s sovereignty acts as a catalyst for obedience, a concept resonating throughout the Bible.