1 Chronicles 21 10

1 Chronicles 21:10 kjv

Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

1 Chronicles 21:10 nkjv

"Go and tell David, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you." ' "

1 Chronicles 21:10 niv

"Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'?"

1 Chronicles 21:10 esv

"Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'"

1 Chronicles 21:10 nlt

"Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.'"

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 10 Meaning

1 Chronicles 21:10 records the divine message delivered to King David by the prophet Gad after David’s sinful census of Israel. In this message, the LORD declares that He is presenting David with three distinct options for judgment. David is commanded to choose one of these options, which the LORD will then bring upon him as a consequence of his transgression. This verse highlights the immediacy and certainty of divine judgment for sin, while also demonstrating God's interactive approach with His chosen servant, even in discipline, by offering a choice within the parameters of His decree.

1 Chronicles 21 10 Context

1 Chronicles 21 begins with David being moved by Satan to number Israel, an act that displeased God and brought His judgment (v. 1-7). The sin was likely a demonstration of David's pride, reliance on human strength, or a lack of full trust in God for victory and security, rather than merely counting for administrative purposes. God had explicitly commanded against certain kinds of censuses or those motivated by a spirit contrary to divine reliance (Exod 30:12, though that concerned the atonement money, the principle of not 'possessing' the people without divine allowance applies). Upon realizing his transgression, David immediately repented and confessed his great sin to God (v. 8). It is at this critical juncture, with David having confessed but the judgment still impending, that Gad, David's seer, is commanded by the LORD to deliver the specific message of consequence found in verse 10. The cultural context understands the divine prophetic message as binding and direct from God, signifying both God's righteous wrath against sin and His ongoing communication with His covenant people, even in the midst of discipline. This episode serves as a strong polemic against self-reliance and nationalistic pride that forgets God's sovereignty as the true source of strength and blessing.

1 Chronicles 21 10 Word analysis

• Go (לֵךְ - lekh): This is an imperative verb, emphasizing an immediate and direct command from the LORD to the prophet Gad. It signifies a divine summons and dispatch for a specific mission, highlighting the urgency and certainty of the message to be delivered.
• and tell (וְדַבֵּר - v'dabber): The conjunction "and" connects the action to Gad's immediate obedience. "Tell" is also an imperative, indicating the prophet's primary role as a messenger, precisely conveying the divine word. The root means "to speak" or "to declare," often with authority, reinforcing the weight of the communication.
• David (דָּוִיד - Dawid): The specific recipient of the message. This highlights the personal nature of God's interaction with His chosen king, even when administering severe discipline.
• saying, ‘Thus says the LORD’ (לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - lemor koh amar YHVH): This is a powerful and common prophetic formula.
  • "Saying" (lemor) clarifies that what follows is the exact utterance.
  • "Thus says the LORD" (koh amar YHVH) authenticates the message as directly from God. "LORD" (YHVH, the covenant name for God) emphasizes His faithfulness to His covenant, even as He judges, and His ultimate authority. This formula removes any doubt about the message's divine origin and its imperative nature.
• I offer you (נֹטֵל אֲנִי עָלֶיךָ - notel aniy aleykha):
  • "I offer" (notel aniy): The verb notel can mean 'to lift,' 'to carry,' 'to take,' or 'to bear.' In this context, it conveys the idea of 'proposing' or 'presenting.' The pronoun "I" (aniy) explicitly points to the LORD as the one initiating this proposition of judgment. This signifies God's direct involvement in orchestrating the consequences of sin.
  • "you" (aleykha): Directed specifically at David, reinforcing the personal nature of the consequences of his sin.
• three things (שָׁלֹשׁ - shalosh): The precise number 'three' signifies distinct and defined choices, not open-ended options. It immediately sets the parameters for the subsequent verses (1 Chron 21:11-12) which detail these three specific judgments. This numerical limitation reflects the sovereignty of God's judgment and limits human negotiation.
• choose one of them for yourself (בְּחַר לְךָ אַחַת מֵהֶם - b'char lekha achat mehem):
  • "Choose" (b'char): An imperative verb, commanding David to make a selection. This highlights the concept of divine choice presented to humanity even within judgment. It doesn't absolve David of consequence, but allows him to participate in how that consequence will manifest. It is a severe choice among undesirable outcomes, emphasizing that the consequence is inescapable.
  • "one of them" (achat mehem): Reiterate the exclusivity of the choice—only one from the given set.
  • "for yourself" (lekha): Emphasizes that this choice directly impacts David personally and his household, as well as the nation under his rule, whose fate is inextricably linked to his as their king.
• that I may do it to you (וְאֶעֱשֶׂה לָּךְ - v'e'eseh lakh):
  • "That I may do" (v'e'eseh): This is God's declarative statement that He will execute the chosen judgment. It assures David that whatever he picks, God will bring it to pass. It underscores God's omnipotence and faithfulness to His word, both in blessing and in judgment.
  • "to you" (lakh): Reaffirming that David and, by extension, his people, will directly bear the consequences of this divinely executed choice.

1 Chronicles 21 10 Bonus section

The historical context of God's three specific judgments—famine, war/defeat, and plague—is deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecy and covenant curses. These three specific forms of widespread calamity (often referred to as the "sword, famine, and pestilence") appear repeatedly throughout Scripture (e.g., Jer 14:12; Ezek 5:12, 17) as the primary means through which God disciplined His people for their unfaithfulness and rebellion. The fact that God specifically presents David with these classic categories of judgment underlines the severity of his census sin, placing it in the same category as national apostasy. It also implicitly highlights God's justice by choosing familiar forms of punishment that His people would recognize as stemming directly from covenant violations. This consistency demonstrates God's unchanging nature in dealing with sin and upholding His moral order.

1 Chronicles 21 10 Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:10 marks a critical turning point following King David's unauthorized census. This verse articulates God's specific, personal message of judgment through the prophet Gad, offering David not a way out, but a choice of the manner of his discipline. The core message is clear: sin, even when confessed, has direct, tangible consequences, and God, in His holiness and justice, will bring these consequences to bear. The use of "Thus says the LORD" underscores the unalterable, divine authority behind the message. God's offer of "three things" is not an act of mercy allowing David to escape punishment, but a demonstration of God's interaction with His chosen, allowing David a limited form of participation in the judgment process. David's choice signifies his acceptance of divine will and responsibility for his actions, and God's promise to "do it" reveals His absolute sovereignty over all outcomes. This episode teaches that even those closest to God are not exempt from His righteous judgment when they sin, reinforcing the seriousness of disobedience and the certainty of divine retribution.For practical usage, this verse illustrates that:

1. Acknowledging sin is vital, but consequences often follow regardless.
2. God maintains sovereignty even in judgment, setting parameters.
3. We may not escape discipline for sin, but God may allow us a choice in how we experience its consequences, often from a set of undesirable options.