2 Samuel 24 10

2 Samuel 24:10 kjv

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

2 Samuel 24:10 nkjv

And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

2 Samuel 24:10 niv

David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

2 Samuel 24:10 esv

But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

2 Samuel 24:10 nlt

But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing."

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 10 Meaning

2 Samuel 24:10 describes King David's immediate reaction after completing the census of Israel and Judah. Upon the census's completion, David experienced deep, painful remorse and conviction, sensing that his action was a grievous sin against the Lord. He confessed this sin directly to God, acknowledging its profound wickedness and inherent foolishness. His plea was for the Lord to remove the guilt and consequences of his iniquity. This verse marks the pivotal moment of David's spiritual awakening to his transgression before divine judgment commenced.

2 Samuel 24 10 Context

2 Samuel chapter 24 is the final chapter of the book and deals with an incident near the end of King David's reign. The chapter opens with the Lord's anger against Israel, which led to David being incited to number the people of Israel and Judah. The exact nature of the sin involved in this census has been debated, but it's largely understood as an act of pride, an overreliance on human military strength rather than divine providence, or a failure to pay the required ransom as per Exodus 30:12, suggesting David viewed the people as his property rather than God's. Joab, David's military commander, even recognized the sinfulness of the act and objected vehemently. Despite this, David persisted. After the census was completed (revealing 800,000 fighting men in Israel and 500,000 in Judah), the verse in question details David's immediate and profound internal realization of his error, occurring without an external prophetic word at that moment. This conviction sets the stage for God's judgment and David's subsequent actions, including selecting a punishment and building an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah (which later became the site of the Temple).

2 Samuel 24 10 Word analysis

• And David's heart smote him:
  • David's heart (lēb Dāwîḏ): The "heart" in Hebrew (lebab) is the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. It's not just the physical organ but the inner being, the center of personality and moral decision. David's entire being was affected.
  • smote him (hik·ke·huw): From the Hebrew verb nakah (נָכָה), meaning "to strike, smite, beat." Here, it signifies a sudden, sharp, internal blow or conviction. This "smoting" of the heart is often seen as a direct action of the Holy Spirit on David's conscience, bringing profound and immediate awareness of his wrongdoing. It wasn't mere regret but a divinely inspired spiritual insight into his sin.
• after that he had numbered the people:
  • numbered (sāphrōw): From saphar (סָפַר), to count, to number. The timing "after" the action suggests that the full weight or realization of the sin settled upon him once the deed was fully executed and the outcome was known. The sin was in the completed act itself and its implications.
  • the people (hā·‘ām): Israel and Judah, God's chosen people, whose strength ultimately belonged to the Lord. David’s census represented an attempt to quantify what was divine, and potentially to rely on that count for future military endeavors rather than on God's power.
• And David said unto the Lord:
  • said (way·yō·mer): Signifies an immediate and direct address. David did not consult advisers or prophets first but turned immediately to God in confession.
  • unto the Lord (Yah·weh): Addressing God by His covenant name, signifying a direct appeal to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God against whom he had sinned.
• I have sinned greatly in what I have done:
  • I have sinned (ḥāṭā’·tî): From ḥāṭā (חָטָא), to miss the mark, to fall short, to go astray, to incur guilt. This is a direct admission of transgression against God's law or will.
  • greatly (mə’ōḏ): An intensifier, meaning "very, exceedingly, utterly." David fully understood and acknowledged the profound gravity and magnitude of his offense. It was not a small error.
  • in what I have done (’ăšer ‘ā·śî·tî): David took full personal responsibility for his actions, offering no excuses or attempting to shift blame, unlike many biblical figures (e.g., Adam, Eve, Saul).
• but now, O Lord, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant:
  • put away (ha‘ă·ḇer na’): From abar (עָבַר), meaning "to pass over, remove, take away, cause to disappear." It is a fervent plea for divine forgiveness, for God to lift the burden of guilt and avert the punishment associated with his sin.
  • I beseech thee (na’): A particle expressing earnest entreaty or request. It highlights the sincerity and humility of David's prayer.
  • the iniquity (‘ā·wō·n): From avon (עָוֹן), signifying perversity, moral evil, guilt, and the punishment due to it. It refers to a moral deviation or twistedness, a serious spiritual offense that requires divine rectification.
  • thy servant (‘ab·də·ḵā): A humble self-designation, appealing to God's mercy and faithfulness towards His chosen. David positions himself not as a mighty king but as a humble, errant servant.
• for I have done very foolishly:
  • very foolishly (nis·kal·tî mə’ōḏ): From sākal (סָכַל), "to be foolish, to act foolishly/stupidly," intensified by mə’ōḏ (very/exceedingly). In biblical thought, "foolishness" is often not a lack of intellect, but a moral and spiritual perversion, a defiance of God's wisdom, and a rejection of divine guidance, leading to acts against God's will or character. David recognized his action as deeply misguided from a divine perspective.

Words-group Analysis:

• "David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people": This phrase encapsulates a profound moment of divine conviction. It's a spontaneous, internal response directly from God's Spirit, bringing to light the error immediately after its completion, before any prophet arrived to confront him. It underscores that spiritual revelation often precedes external consequences.
• "And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly... but now, O Lord, put away... for I have done very foolishly": This progression showcases a complete act of repentance. It begins with immediate, direct, and unreserved confession ("I have sinned greatly"), acknowledges responsibility ("in what I have done"), humbly requests divine intervention for pardon and removal of guilt ("put away... the iniquity"), and provides the underlying nature of the sin from a divine perspective ("done very foolishly"—spiritual perversity and lack of wisdom). The contrastive "but now" emphasizes a plea for immediate grace.

2 Samuel 24 10 Bonus section

The nature of David's sin in the census, despite being ambiguous initially in 2 Samuel 24, becomes clearer through contextual clues and cross-references. It was likely seen as an act of personal pride or a pragmatic reliance on his burgeoning military manpower rather than on God's unwavering strength and promise to multiply Israel (cf. 1 Chr 27:23-24). Such an act would bypass the covenant trust in Yahweh. Furthermore, the specific Mosaic law concerning a census in Exodus 30:12 required a half-shekel atonement payment for each person numbered "that there may be no plague among them when you number them." David seemingly neglected this or did not number for the purpose of such a ransom, effectively counting God's people as his own, violating their unique consecrated status. The profound impact on David's conscience—his heart literally "smote" him—implies an undeniable, divinely impressed awareness of his transgression, an internal accusation that resonated more deeply than Joab’s earlier spoken objection.

2 Samuel 24 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:10 is a pivotal verse, revealing the immediate spiritual consequence of David's census. This inner conviction ("heart smote him") highlights God's active involvement in human conscience. It wasn't merely David's personal regret but a divinely prompted realization of a deep sin against the Lord. The act of numbering was problematic, possibly rooted in pride, self-reliance on human strength rather than divine provision, or an attempt to use God's people as his personal asset without proper atonement. The comparison with the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21, where Satan incites David, points to the complex interplay of divine permission (God allowing the temptation as part of His ultimate plan, e.g., to secure the Temple site) and human culpability.

David's response is exemplary: immediate, unequivocal confession. He admits the enormity of his "great sin" and the profound "foolishness" of his action, signifying a failure in spiritual judgment. He doesn't blame others or seek justifications. This honest admission sets the stage for God's response – judgment, yes, but also a pathway to atonement and renewed fellowship. His plea to "put away... the iniquity" demonstrates his faith in God's mercy to cleanse and forgive, underscoring the vital connection between confession and forgiveness. This pattern of sin, conviction, and heartfelt repentance defines much of David's walk with God, revealing both his deep flaws and his remarkable capacity for humility and reliance on divine grace.