1 Chronicles 21 13

1 Chronicles 21:13 kjv

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

1 Chronicles 21:13 nkjv

And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

1 Chronicles 21:13 niv

David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands."

1 Chronicles 21:13 esv

Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

1 Chronicles 21:13 nlt

"I'm in a desperate situation!" David replied to Gad. "But let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands."

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 13 Meaning

David's response to the three choices of divine punishment reveals his profound understanding of God's character. He expresses deep anguish ("great distress") over the consequences of his sin (the census) but, when given the option, chooses to endure judgment directly from the hand of the LORD rather than the hand of man. This decision is rooted in his firm conviction that God's mercies are immeasurable, knowing that even in correction, God acts with perfect justice tempered by boundless compassion, unlike the often arbitrary, prolonged, or cruel punishments that might come from human hands.

1 Chronicles 21 13 Context

Chapter 21 of 1 Chronicles details David's sin of numbering the people of Israel, an act incited by Satan (as stated in 1 Chr 21:1). This census, taken without divine command, was a manifestation of pride, potentially reflecting David's reliance on human military strength rather than unwavering faith in God's power. As a direct consequence, the prophet Gad presents David with three divinely appointed choices for punishment. Verse 13 captures David's pivotal response: his choice to submit to judgment directly from God. This decision leads to a pestilence that is ultimately halted at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, the precise spot where the angel of the LORD stood. This event sacredly marks and consecrates the site, which later becomes the permanent location for the future Temple, demonstrating God's redemptive work even amidst human transgression.

1 Chronicles 21 13 Word analysis

• Then David said to Gad,: This introduction identifies the key figures involved – David, the King, and Gad, the prophet who delivers God's message. It marks a moment of direct communication and a profound personal decision by David.

• "I am in great distress.": The Hebrew phrase tsar li m'od (צַר לִי מְאֹד) literally means "distress to me greatly" or "it is very narrow for me." It vividly conveys David's profound anguish, highlighting his limited and difficult options. This reveals his genuine sorrow over the consequences of his sin.

• "Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD,": The verb eppela-na (אֶפְּלָה־נָּא), translated "let me fall," indicates David's active, conscious choice to submit to God's judgment rather than a passive resignation. "The hand of the LORD" (b'yad YHWH, בְיַד יְהוָה) signifies God's absolute sovereignty, divine power, and right to execute just judgment. David willingly embraces direct divine punishment.

• "for His mercies are very great;": This clause provides the core rationale for David's decision. The word "mercies" (rachamav, רַחֲמָיו) derives from a root associated with the deepest, womb-like compassion, such as a mother's for her child. It speaks to God's inherent nature of steadfast love (hesed) and profound tenderness, which are "very great" (m'od), signifying their limitless and abundant quality, even in the midst of righteous anger and punishment.

• "but do not let me fall into the hand of man.": This sharply contrasts divine justice with human fallibility. "The hand of man" (uv'yad adam, וּבְיַד אָדָם) implies the potential for arbitrary, cruel, protracted, or unjust suffering from human agencies, devoid of the perfect mercy and ultimate redemptive purpose found in God's discipline. David wisely recognized that even the severest divine punishment would be ultimately fairer and more tempered than human retribution.

• "I am in great distress. Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD,": This phrase group highlights David's acceptance of personal responsibility for his anguish, demonstrating his preference for a direct encounter with God's justice. His choice to actively "fall" into God's hand reflects a profound trust in divine ultimate wisdom and character.

• "for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.": This demonstrates David's deep theological understanding. He trusts that God’s compassionate nature will prevail even during judgment, providing a stark contrast to the less merciful and potentially more capricious judgment from humans. This reveals David's intimate knowledge of the Divine and a reliance on God's steadfast love.

1 Chronicles 21 13 Bonus section

David’s choice, particularly opting for the pestilence, while terrible in its immediate impact, served a higher purpose. The very location where the plague stopped—the threshing floor of Ornan (Araunah) the Jebusite—became the hallowed site chosen by God for the future Temple (1 Chr 21:28-22:1). Thus, a profound moment of human sin and divine judgment was paradoxically woven into God’s overarching plan to establish the permanent place for worship, sacrifice, and atonement for His people. This illustrates God's ability to orchestrate His righteous purposes even out of human failings and demonstrates His enduring covenant faithfulness. While 2 Samuel 24 attributes the census to "the anger of the LORD," 1 Chronicles 21 places the incitement upon Satan, highlighting complementary theological perspectives on the origin of evil and God's sovereign allowance for human and spiritual agency.

1 Chronicles 21 13 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment revealing David’s remarkable spiritual maturity and his profound theological grasp of God’s nature. Faced with severe divine discipline for his sin, David expresses deep personal agony but makes a clear, conscious choice. He prefers direct punishment from God's hand because he understands that while divine judgment is indeed fearsome, it is invariably infused with infinite mercy and justice, perfectly tempered by boundless compassion. Unlike human judgment, which can be inconsistent, cruel, biased, or enduring, God’s discipline is always precise, ultimately purposeful, and ultimately redemptive, even if painful. David knew that God’s righteous anger, while necessary for holiness, is always temporary, whereas His unwavering mercy endures eternally. This profound conviction highlights a crucial aspect of biblical faith: finding refuge and trusting in God’s character even in the face of His disciplinary hand.