2 Samuel 24 17

2 Samuel 24:17 kjv

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

2 Samuel 24:17 nkjv

Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house."

2 Samuel 24:17 niv

When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, "I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family."

2 Samuel 24:17 esv

Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house."

2 Samuel 24:17 nlt

When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep ? what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family."

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 17 Meaning

2 Samuel 24:17 captures David's deeply remorseful confession and a selfless plea for his people following his sinful census. When he sees the divine judgment in the form of an angel striking the populace, David immediately acknowledges his sole responsibility for the transgression, stating that he and his father's house (his lineage and administration) are the true culprits. He pleads with God to direct the punishing hand solely towards him and his household, effectively offering himself and his family as sacrifices to spare the innocent "sheep"—the people—from further suffering due to his folly. It underscores David's humility, repentance, and the burden of leadership, recognizing that his sin brought devastating consequences upon his nation.

2 Samuel 24 17 Context

Chapter 24 opens with the Lord's anger against Israel, which implicitly leads David to command a census of the fighting men. Although not inherently forbidden, the act of counting was deemed an expression of David's trust in military might rather than reliance on God, a move likely driven by pride and a desire to consolidate power or assess his kingdom's human resources without divine sanction. Joab, David's military commander, and the other army commanders immediately recognized the danger and tried to dissuade him, but David insisted. After nine months and twenty days, the census was completed, confirming 1.3 million fighting men. Immediately afterward, David's conscience struck him, and he confessed his sin to the Lord (2 Sam 24:10). In response, God offered David three choices of punishment: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of pestilence. David, acknowledging his deep sin and recognizing God's vast mercy, chose the pestilence, preferring to "fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great, rather than into the hand of man." The plague began, causing the death of seventy thousand people from Dan to Beersheba. Verse 17 occurs as David witnesses the devastation and the angel of the Lord standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, poised to destroy Jerusalem. David's profound sorrow and intercessory plea mark the turning point in the plague.

2 Samuel 24 17 Word analysis

• Then David spoke: Dāvid waydabbēr (Strong's H1732 H1696). David, the King of Israel, acknowledging his transgression and taking immediate responsibility for the consequence of his actions, demonstrates his role as the head of the nation and its representative before God. This action highlights a leadership quality in the face of judgment.
• to the Lord: ʾel YHWH (Strong's H413 H3068). This is a direct, personal appeal to God, indicating deep repentance and the acknowledgement of God as the ultimate sovereign. The act of prayer and direct address to God is a core characteristic of biblical figures in crisis.
• when he saw: bir'ōtōh (Strong's H7200). Implies an immediate, visceral reaction to the visible manifestation of divine judgment—the angel and the widespread death—underscoring the severity of the situation and the catalyst for David's plea. This isn't abstract knowledge but direct, agonizing sight.
• the angel: hammalʾāḵ (Strong's H4397). Refers to a divine messenger, in this context specifically the angel of destruction or plague, representing God's active hand in executing judgment. Such angelic figures are seen throughout Scripture delivering both messages and divine interventions, whether destructive or protective.
• who was striking the people: hammakkeh baʿām (Strong's H5221 H5971). Emphasizes the ongoing, direct action of divine judgment upon the nation, directly linking the pestilence to God's intervention, not a random calamity.
• and said: wayyōʾmer (Strong's H559). His spoken response, revealing his heart's true burden.
• "Behold, I have sinned": Hinnēh ʾānōḵî ḥāṭāʾtî (Strong's H2009 H589 H2398). "Behold" (Hinnēh) emphasizes the declaration; "I have sinned" (ḥāṭāʾtî) is a definitive, unreserved confession. This is not just a mistake but an act of moral failure, falling short of God's standard.
• "and I have done wickedly": wᵉʾānōḵî heʿĕwētî (Strong's H5771). The word heʿĕwētî derives from ʿāwāh, meaning to bend, twist, or act perversely. It implies an intentional deviation from what is right, amplifying the depth of his transgression beyond mere sin to active wrongdoing.
• "But these sheep": wᵉʾelleh haṣṣōʾn (Strong's H2007 H6629). Refers to the people as his flock, highlighting David's understanding of his role as shepherd-king over God's people (a common biblical metaphor). The phrase expresses the people's innocence in the matter of the census.
• "what have they done?": mah ʿāśû (Strong's H4100 H6213). A rhetorical question expressing their blamelessness concerning his particular sin and an implicit plea for mercy on their behalf.
• "Please let your hand be against me": yehi-nāʾ yādeḵā bî (Strong's H3027 H4100). "Your hand" (H3027) represents divine power, specifically in this context, the hand of judgment. David actively requests to bear the brunt of the punishment, revealing genuine penitence and self-sacrifice.
• "and against my father's house": wᵉʿal bêt ʾābî (Strong's H1004 H1). Includes his family and household (representing his lineage and the broader administration linked to him), indicating a willingness to accept punishment not just personally but dynastily, acknowledging his responsibility for those connected to him.

2 Samuel 24 17 Bonus section

The site of Araunah's threshing floor, where the Angel of the Lord halted the pestilence and where David was instructed to build an altar, later became the site of Solomon's Temple (2 Chr 3:1). This transformation of a place of judgment into a place of atonement and worship is highly significant. David's offer of himself foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who, though sinless, took upon himself the punishment for humanity's sin, becoming the innocent "sheep" sacrificed for the truly guilty. David's intercession exemplifies a leader bearing the burden of his people, even desiring to take their punishment, which stands as a poignant type for Christ's perfect vicarious atonement. This incident also serves as a strong warning against trusting in human strength and numbers rather than relying solely on the divine Providence of God, a subtle polemic against the prevailing pagan reliance on military might.

2 Samuel 24 17 Commentary

David's words in 2 Samuel 24:17 form the apex of his repentance. Having just confessed his sin of taking the census (2 Sam 24:10), the sight of the Angel of the Lord bringing pestilence brings the consequences home in a harrowing visual. David does not equivocate or blame others; he squarely takes responsibility for his sin, describing it with two strong verbs: ḥāṭāʾtî ("I have sinned," indicating missing the mark) and heʿĕwētî ("I have done wickedly," implying a deliberate perversion or wrong action). This full confession is crucial to seeking God's mercy. His deep love for his people is evident in the metaphor "these sheep," highlighting their vulnerability and his pastoral duty. His plea, "let your hand be against me and against my father's house," is a remarkable act of intercessory self-sacrifice. He willingly offers himself and his own, including his royal line, as a substitute for the innocent populace. This demonstrates a core principle of righteous leadership: prioritizing the well-being of the flock over personal preservation, even in the face of divine judgment. This heartfelt intercession, combined with God's pre-existing plan for the place (Araunah's threshing floor becoming the site of the Temple), signals the turning point for the cessation of the plague. It shows that even when divine judgment is warranted, a broken and contrite spirit can move the heart of God.