Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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.” New Living Translation 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.” English Standard Version 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.” Berean Standard Bible When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” Berean Literal Bible And David spoke to YHWH when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and he said, “Behold, I, the shepherd, have sinned, and I have acted wickedly. And these sheep, what have they done? Please be Your hand against me and against the house of my father.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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.” New American Standard Bible Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house!” NASB 1995 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.” NASB 1977 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Thy hand be against me and against my father’s house.” Legacy Standard Bible Then David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done unrighteousness; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and my father’s house.” Amplified Bible When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he spoke to the LORD and said, “Behold, I [alone] am the one who has sinned and done wrong; but these sheep (people of Israel), what have they done [to deserve this]? Please let Your hand be [only] against me and my father’s house (family).” Berean Annotated Bible When David (beloved) saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD {YHWH}, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house. Christian Standard Bible When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the LORD, “Look, I am the one who has sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let your hand be against me and my father’s family.” Holman Christian Standard Bible When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the LORD, “Look, I am the one who has sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand be against me and my father’s family.” American Standard Version And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. Contemporary English Version David saw the angel killing everyone and told the LORD, "These people are like sheep with me as their shepherd. I have sinned terribly, but they have done nothing wrong. Please, punish me and my family instead of them!" English Revised Version 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 perversely: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. GOD'S WORD® Translation When David saw the Messenger who had been killing the people, he said to the LORD, "I've sinned. I've done wrong. What have these sheep done? Please let your punishment be against me and against my father's family." Good News Translation David saw the angel who was killing the people, and said to the LORD, "I am the guilty one. I am the one who did wrong. What have these poor people done? You should punish me and my family." International Standard Version When David saw the angel who had been attacking the people, he told the LORD, "Look, I'm the one who has sinned! I did the evil. These are only sheep! What did they do? Please, let your hand fall on me and on my household!" NET Bible When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to the LORD, "Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As for these sheep--what have they done? Attack me and my family." New Heart English Bible Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, "Look, I have sinned, and I, the shepherd, have done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house." Webster's Bible Translation And David spoke to 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 thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” World English Bible David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd David speaks to YHWH when he sees the messenger who is striking among the people, and says, “Behold, I have sinned, indeed, I have done perversely; and these—the flock—what have they done? Please let Your hand be on me and on the house of my father.” Berean Literal Bible And David spoke to YHWH when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and he said, “Behold, I, the shepherd, have sinned, and I have acted wickedly. And these sheep, what have they done? Please be Your hand against me and against the house of my father.” Young's Literal Translation And David speaketh unto Jehovah, when he seeth the messenger who is smiting among the people, and saith, 'Lo, I have sinned, yea, I have done perversely; and these -- the flock -- what have they done? Let, I pray Thee, Thy hand be on me, and on the house of my father.' Smith's Literal Translation And David will say to Jehovah, in his seeing the messenger smiting the people, and he will say, Behold, I sinned and acted perversely; and these sheep, what did they? Now shall thy hand be upon me and upon my father's house. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd David said to the Lord, when he saw the angel striking the people: It is I; I am he that have sinned, I have done wickedly: these that are the sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I beseech thee, be turned against me, and against my father's house. Catholic Public Domain Version And when he had seen the Angel cutting down the people, David said to the Lord: “I am the one who sinned. I have acted iniquitously. These ones who are the sheep, what have they done? I beg you that your hand may be turned against me and against my father’s house.” New American Bible When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the LORD: “It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Strike me and my father’s family!” New Revised Standard Version When David saw the angel who was destroying the people, he said to the LORD, “I alone have sinned, and I alone have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who smote the people, and said to the angel, I have sinned and I have given provocation; but these innocent sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand be against me, and against my father's house. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David said before LORD JEHOVAH, when he saw the Angel who destroyed the people, he answered and he said to him to the Angel: “Surely I have sinned and I have provoked anger! These sheep are blameless! What have they done? Let your hand be against me and against the house of my father!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And David spoke unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said: 'Lo, I have sinned, and I have done iniquitously; but these sheep, what have they done? let Thy hand, I pray Thee, be against me, and against my father's house.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel smiting the people, and he said, Behold, it is I that have done wrong, but these sheep what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, be upon me, and upon my father's house. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Plague on Israel…16But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” Cross References When David saw the angel striking down the people, 1 Chronicles 21:16 When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. 2 Kings 19:35 And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! Exodus 12:23 When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. he said to the LORD, Exodus 32:11-14 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” … Psalm 106:23 So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them. Numbers 16:46-48 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. / He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted. “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. 2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 2 Samuel 7:8 Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. Psalm 78:70-72 He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; / from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. / So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands. But these sheep, what have they done? Psalm 44:22 Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Ezekiel 34:5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” 1 Chronicles 21:17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.” Exodus 32:32-33 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” / The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. Deuteronomy 5:9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Numbers 16:22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?” Treasury of Scripture And David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, See, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let your hand, I pray you, be against me, and against my father's house. spake 1 Chronicles 21:16,17 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces… Lo, I have sinned 2 Samuel 24:10 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. Job 7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. these sheep 1 Kings 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. Psalm 44:11 Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. Psalm 74:1 Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? let thine Genesis 44:33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. John 10:11,12 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep… 1 Peter 2:24,25 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed… Jump to Previous Angel David Father's Hand House Iniquitously Perversely Please Sheep Sinned Smote Striking Struck Wickedly WrongJump to Next Angel David Father's Hand House Iniquitously Perversely Please Sheep Sinned Smote Striking Struck Wickedly Wrong2 Samuel 24 1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people5. The captains, in nine months and twenty days, gather 1,300,000 fighting men 10. David repents, and having three plagues proposed by God, chooses pestilence 15. After the death of 70,000, David by prayer prevents the destruction of Jerusalem 18. David, by God's direction, purchases Araunah's threshing floor; 25. and the plague stops When David saw the angel striking down the people David's vision of the angel is a divine revelation, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Angels often serve as messengers or agents of God's will, as seen in Genesis 19:1 and Exodus 12:23. The angel's presence signifies God's direct intervention in human affairs, emphasizing the gravity of David's sin in ordering the census. This event occurs after David's military census, which was against God's will, leading to a plague as punishment (2 Samuel 24:1-15). The angel's actions are a fulfillment of the judgment pronounced by the prophet Gad. he said to the LORD Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel, who acknowledges his sin and takes responsibility for the consequences affecting his people. 2. The Angel of the LORD A divine messenger executing judgment upon Israel as a result of David's sin. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The God of Israel, who is just and merciful, and to whom David appeals for mercy. 4. The People of Israel Referred to as "sheep" by David, they are suffering due to the king's actions. 5. Jerusalem The city where the angel was poised to strike, highlighting the severity of the situation. Teaching Points The Weight of LeadershipLeaders bear significant responsibility for their actions, which can have widespread consequences. The Heart of a Shepherd True leadership involves self-sacrifice and a deep concern for the well-being of those under one's care. Repentance and Intercession Genuine repentance involves acknowledging one's sin and interceding for others affected by it. God's Justice and Mercy God's response to sin is just, yet He is also merciful to those who repent and seek His forgiveness. The Role of Christ as the Ultimate Shepherd David's willingness to take the punishment points to Christ, who took upon Himself the sins of the world. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 24:17?2. How does David's plea in 2 Samuel 24:17 demonstrate true repentance? 3. What leadership qualities does David exhibit in 2 Samuel 24:17? 4. How does David's intercession reflect Christ's role as our mediator? 5. How can we apply David's sense of responsibility in our daily lives? 6. What does 2 Samuel 24:17 teach about accountability for our actions? 7. Why does David take responsibility for the sin in 2 Samuel 24:17? 8. How does 2 Samuel 24:17 reflect on God's justice and mercy? 9. What is the significance of David's plea in 2 Samuel 24:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 24? 11. How do we reconcile the differences between 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7 regarding the details of God's covenant with David? 12. Why would a merciful God send a plague that kills 70,000 people for David’s wrongdoing (2 Samuel 24:15)? 13. Why does an all-knowing God, in Exodus 32:14, appear to change His mind after Moses intercedes? 14. Who incited David to take a census? (2 Samuel 24:1 vs. 1 Chronicles 21:1) What Does 2 Samuel 24:17 Mean David saw the angel striking down the people• The plague God had sent in response to David’s census had already taken the lives of 70,000 (2 Samuel 24:15). • Verse 16 says, “When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented.” Yet David still “saw the angel,” underscoring the terror and reality of divine judgment (1 Chronicles 21:15–16; Exodus 12:23; 2 Kings 19:35). • Leaders cannot hide from God’s corrective hand; David physically beholds what his sin has unleashed. He said to the LORD • David turns immediately to prayer, modeling the only right response when confronted with sin (Psalm 32:5; 51:1–4). • The verse links sight to supplication—true conviction produces direct, humble appeal to God. • Contrast Saul, who often appealed to Samuel instead of God (1 Samuel 15:30). David knows the matter must be settled with the LORD Himself. “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly” • David owns full responsibility, calling himself “the shepherd” of Israel (2 Samuel 5:2). A shepherd’s failures harm the flock (James 3:1). • He makes no excuses, echoing his earlier confession after Bathsheba: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). • Genuine repentance names the sin and brands it wicked, aligning with God’s assessment (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). “But these sheep, what have they done?” • David contrasts his guilt with the relative innocence of the people, labeling them “sheep” (Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17). • The shepherd’s heart pleads for the flock’s safety, reflecting God’s own compassion (Psalm 23:1; John 10:11). • While Israel was not sinless (2 Samuel 24:1 indicates national pride), David acknowledges that his leadership role intensifies his culpability. “Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” • David offers himself as substitute, reminiscent of Moses’ intercession—“blot me out of Your book” (Exodus 32:32). • He accepts potential generational consequences (Exodus 34:7) yet hopes God’s mercy will localize the judgment. • This self-sacrificial plea foreshadows the ultimate Son of David, Jesus, who actually bears the punishment for His people (Isaiah 53:4–6; Romans 5:17–19; 1 Peter 2:24). summary David’s sight of the avenging angel drives him to heartfelt confession. He shoulders the blame, defends the flock, and volunteers to absorb the blow himself. The verse spotlights leadership accountability, sincere repentance, and substitutionary love—elements that point beyond David to Christ, the perfect Shepherd who truly takes the wrath our sins deserve and shields His sheep forever. Verse 17. - I have done wickedly; Hebrew, I have done perversely, or crookedly. David acknowledges that his conduct had not been upright and straightforward, but that he had turned aside into the paths of self-will and personal aggrandizement. These sheep, what have they done? The sin had been quite as much that of the people as of the king; for the war lust had entered into the very heart of the nation. But David, with that warmth of feeling which makes his character so noble, can see only his own fault. It is not a true repentance when the sinner looks for excuses, and apportions the blame between himself and others. To David the people seemed innocent, or, if at all to blame, he felt that it was he who had set them the example and led them on. The narrative in this place is much briefer than in Chronicles.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When Davidדָּוִ֨ד (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse saw בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ ׀ (bir·’ō·ṯōw) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see the angel הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ ׀ (ham·mal·’āḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel striking down הַמַּכֶּ֣ה (ham·mak·keh) Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5221: To strike the people, בָעָ֗ם (ḇā·‘ām) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock he said וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the LORD, יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel “Surely הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh) Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! I, [the shepherd], אָנֹכִ֤י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I have sinned חָטָ֙אתִי֙ (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn and וְאָנֹכִ֣י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I acted wickedly. הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי (he·‘ĕ·wê·ṯî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5753: To bend, twist But these וְאֵ֥לֶּה (wə·’êl·leh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those sheep, הַצֹּ֖אן (haṣ·ṣōn) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock what מֶ֣ה (meh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have they done? עָשׂ֑וּ (‘ā·śū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make Please, נָ֥א (nā) Interjection Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then' let Your hand יָדְךָ֛ (yā·ḏə·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand fall upon תְּהִ֨י (tə·hî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be me בִּ֖י (bî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 0: 0 and my father’s אָבִֽי׃ (’ā·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1: Father house.” וּבְבֵ֥ית (ū·ḇə·ḇêṯ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house Links 2 Samuel 24:17 NIV2 Samuel 24:17 NLT 2 Samuel 24:17 ESV 2 Samuel 24:17 NASB 2 Samuel 24:17 KJV 2 Samuel 24:17 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 24:17 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 24:17 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 24:17 French Bible 2 Samuel 24:17 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 24:17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
    |