2 Samuel 24 16

2 Samuel 24:16 kjv

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:16 nkjv

And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:16 niv

When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:16 esv

And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:16 nlt

But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, "Stop! That is enough!" At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 16 Meaning

This verse details the pivotal moment when the divine judgment, a devastating plague sent by God in response to David's census, is halted. As the Angel of the Lord extends its hand toward Jerusalem to bring destruction, the Lord, in an act of sovereign mercy, relents from the calamity. He commands the destroying angel to cease its work with the definitive words, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The narrative precisely places the Angel of the Lord at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, a location that will become central to Israel's worship and future.

2 Samuel 24 16 Context

This verse is the climax of the narrative in 2 Samuel chapter 24, which recounts David's census—an act potentially born of pride in his military might or a lack of trust in God, interpreted by some as incited by Satan (1 Chr 21:1). As punishment, God offered David three choices of calamity, and David chose to "fall into the hand of the Lord" (2 Sam 24:14), resulting in a devastating plague that killed seventy thousand Israelites. Verse 16 marks the turning point where God's wrath, though severe, reaches its limit. The historical context shows Jerusalem under David's reign, a newly established capital where Jebusites still resided, underscoring the interaction with Araunah. This precise location, Araunah's threshing floor, is revealed as the place where God's judgment stops, subsequently becoming the chosen site for an altar built by David, and later, the Temple of Solomon (2 Chr 3:1), signifying a sacred space where atonement could be made to avert future divine wrath.

2 Samuel 24 16 Word analysis

• When the angel: The Hebrew 'mal'akh Yahweh' (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה) or simply 'the angel' as used here, denotes a divine messenger. In parallel accounts (1 Chr 21:15-16), it is consistently "the angel of the Lord," often understood as a special manifestation of God Himself (a theophany or Christophany) or a highly authorized heavenly being directly embodying divine will, acting as the executor of God's judgment. Its appearance signifies God's direct, active involvement.
• stretched out his hand: This conveys an active, decisive movement of execution, implying immediate readiness to unleash the final destructive blow upon Jerusalem. It paints a vivid picture of the very edge of ultimate wrath.
• toward Jerusalem to destroy it: This specifies the precise target of the angel's impending action—God's holy city, a chilling detail emphasizing the universal reach of God's judgment, even against His chosen people and sacred places when sin is prevalent.
• the Lord relented: The Hebrew verb 'nicham' (נִחַם) signifies "to repent," "to feel compassion," or "to sorrow." It does not mean God changes His nature or pre-ordained plan but rather, He changes His action in response to a change in circumstances (e.g., David's earlier repentance in v.10, though this particular verse emphasizes God's sovereign initiative here) or because the divine purpose of the judgment had been met. It highlights God's dynamic interaction with humanity and His deep compassion that often mitigates deserved judgment.
• from the calamity: 'Calamity' is from the Hebrew 'ra'ah' (רָעָה), meaning evil, distress, or harm. Here, it specifically refers to the ongoing plague that had ravaged the land, indicating that God actively withdrew this specific divine punishment.
• and said to the angel who was destroying the people: This direct command underscores God's absolute sovereignty. The angel is merely an agent, not acting on its own volition, and is entirely subordinate to God's ultimate will, even in matters of judgment.
• “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”: The Hebrew 'rav' (רַב) literally means "great" or "sufficient." Here, it's an abrupt, powerful exclamation marking the end, indicating that the prescribed limit of judgment has been reached. 'Withdraw your hand' (הֶרֶף יָדֶךָ, heref yadeka) is an immediate directive to cease the destructive action. This signals a turning point initiated by God's mercy, putting a boundary to His righteous wrath.
• And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite: This specific geographical detail is critical. A threshing floor (בְּגֹרֶן, b'goren) was typically an open, elevated, breezy place used for separating grain from chaff. The detail that it belongs to Araunah (Ornan in Chronicles), a Jebusite, the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem, is significant. This site is later identified as Mount Moriah (2 Chr 3:1) and the future location of the First and Second Temples, where the presence of the Lord would dwell and atonement would be made. This verse thus establishes the future sacred space.

2 Samuel 24 16 Bonus section

• Mount Moriah Connection: The threshing floor of Araunah is traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, the same location where Abraham was commanded to offer Isaac (Gen 22:2). This connects 2 Samuel 24:16 to an ancient pre-cursor where God also provided a substitute sacrifice, thereby turning away ultimate destruction. This dual significance solidifies the site as a foundational place for God's redemptive actions throughout Israelite history.
• Divine Anthropomorphism and Theophany: God "relenting" (anthropomorphism) is a powerful way the Bible communicates God's interaction with humanity without suggesting a change in His eternal character. He remains consistently just and consistently merciful. The Angel of the Lord's presence often suggests a physical manifestation of God's presence, serving as a mediator of both judgment and salvation, thus emphasizing the directness of God's intervention.
• Significance of the Jebusite: The fact that the pivotal sacred site was originally owned by a Jebusite and not an Israelite could subtly foreshadow the future inclusion of non-Israelites within God's wider redemptive plan, showing God's dominion and concern extends beyond exclusive ethnic lines, even if established through a transactional process. David's insistence on buying the land at full price (2 Sam 24:24) emphasizes that genuine worship and atonement require costly sacrifice, not cheap grace, a principle echoing through all biblical sacrifices pointing to Christ.

2 Samuel 24 16 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:16 stands as a profound illustration of God's character, balancing justice with immense mercy. Having exercised a severe judgment against Israel due to David's sin, God, at the very precipice of striking His holy city Jerusalem, displays an outpouring of compassion by halting the destroyer. The immediate cessation, marked by God's abrupt command "Enough!", reveals a sovereign will that limits wrath even in its just execution. This moment is not merely a reprieve but a foundational act, establishing Araunah's threshing floor as the sacred site where the Temple would later be built. This transformation from a place of judgment and impending death to a center of atonement and worship foreshadows God's plan for dealing with human sin – a costly sacrifice (as seen in David's purchase in v.24) that effectively turns away divine wrath, providing a path to communion rather than consumption. It serves as a powerful reminder that God remembers mercy in the midst of wrath (Hab 3:2), always providing a means of salvation.