KJV ORIGINAL
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But King David said to Ornan, 'No, I will definitely buy it from you at the full price. I won't take what belongs to you to give to the LORD, and I won't offer sacrifices that cost me nothing.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
David insists on paying full price for the land because he believes offerings to God should cost something and come from genuine sacrifice, not be free gifts from others.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after David's census angered God and brought plague upon Israel. David needed to build an altar to offer sacrifices and stop the plague. Ornan the Jebusite offered to give David his threshing floor and oxen for free, but David refused the generous offer.
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