1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 21:12–17

12between three years of famine, three months of being swept awayb before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD— days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

13David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

14So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.

15Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!”

At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornanc the Jebusite.

16When 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. 17And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? Id 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.”

Footnotes

  • b 21:12 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate of fleeing; see 2 Samuel 24:13|2SA 24:13.
  • c 21:15 Ornan is a variant of Araunah; also in verses 18–28; see 2 Samuel 24:16|2SA 24:16.
  • d 21:17 Or I, the shepherd,see 2 Samuel 24:17|2SA 24:17DSS and LXX.

Read all of 1 Chronicles 21

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Chronicles 21:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
betweenאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
threeשָׁל֨וֹשׁšā·lō·wōšNumber - feminine singularH7969 a three, triad
yearsשָׁנִ֜יםšā·nîmNoun - feminine pluralH8141 year
of famineרָעָ֗בrā·‘āḇNoun - masculine singularH7458 famine, hunger
threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֨הšə·lō·šāhNumber - masculine singularH7969 a three, triad
monthsחֳדָשִׁ֜יםḥo·ḏā·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH2320 (newness), new moon, month
of being swept awayנִסְפֶּ֥הnis·pehVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH5595 sweep away or snatch away, catch up
beforeמִפְּנֵי־mip·pə·nê-Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural constructH6440 face, before
your enemiesצָרֶיךָ֮ṣā·re·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH6862 narrow, tight
and overtakenלְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒lə·maś·śe·ḡeṯPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singularH5381 reach, overtake
by their swordsוְחֶ֣רֶבwə·ḥe·reḇConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular constructH2719 sword
orוְאִם־wə·’im-ConjunctionH518 if
threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתšə·lō·šeṯNumber - masculine singular constructH7969 a three, triad
daysיָ֠מִיםyā·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3117 day
of the swordחֶ֣רֶבḥe·reḇNoun - feminine singular constructH2719 sword
of the LORDיְהוָ֤הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
days of plagueוְדֶ֙בֶר֙wə·ḏe·ḇerConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH1698 pestilence
upon the landבָּאָ֔רֶץbā·’ā·reṣPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
with the angelוּמַלְאַ֣ךְū·mal·’aḵConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
ravagingמַשְׁחִ֖יתmaš·ḥîṯVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH7843 go to ruin (?)
everyבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
partגְּב֣וּלgə·ḇūlNoun - masculine singular constructH1366 border, boundary, territory
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
Now thenוְעַתָּ֣הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
decideרְאֵ֔הrə·’êhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH7200 see
howמָֽה־māh-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
I should replyאָשִׁ֥יב’ā·šîḇVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularH7725 turn back, return
to Him who sent meשֹׁלְחִ֖יšō·lə·ḥîVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH7971 send

1 Chronicles 21:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Davidדָּוִ֛ידdā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
answeredוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Gadגָּ֖דgāḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1410 Gad
I am deeply distressedצַר־ṣar-Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6862 narrow, tight
Pleaseנָּ֣אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
let me fallאֶפְּלָה־’ep·pə·lāh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH5307 fall, lie
into the handבְיַד־ḇə·yaḏ-Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
His merciesרַחֲמָיו֙ra·ḥă·māwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH7356 womb
veryמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
greatרַבִּ֤יםrab·bîmAdjective - masculine pluralH7227 much, many, great
but do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
let me fallאֶפֹּֽל׃’ep·pōlVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularH5307 fall, lie
into the handsוּבְיַד־ū·ḇə·yaḏ-Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of menאָדָ֖ם’ā·ḏāmNoun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind

1 Chronicles 21:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
sentוַיִּתֵּ֧ןway·yit·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
a plagueדֶּ֖בֶרde·ḇerNoun - masculine singularH1698 pestilence
upon Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbə·yiś·rā·’êlPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
and seventyשִׁבְעִ֥יםšiḇ·‘îmNumber - common pluralH7657 seventy
thousandאֶ֖לֶף’e·lep̄Number - masculine singularH505 thousand
menאִֽישׁ׃’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmî·yiś·rā·’êlPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
fell deadוַיִּפֹּל֙way·yip·pōlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie

1 Chronicles 21:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Godהָאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩way·yiš·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7971 send
an angelמַלְאָ֥ךְ׀mal·’āḵNoun - masculine singularH4397 messenger
to destroyלְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒lə·haš·ḥî·ṯāhPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singularH7843 go to ruin (?)
Jerusalemלִֽירוּשָׁלִַם֮lî·rū·šā·limPreposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
but as the angel was doing soוּכְהַשְׁחִ֗יתū·ḵə·haš·ḥîṯConjunctive waw, Preposition-k; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH7843 go to ruin (?)
the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saw itרָאָ֤הrā·’āhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
and relentedוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםway·yin·nā·ḥemConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5162 be sorry, console
fromעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the calamityהָֽרָעָ֔הhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
and He saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to the angelלַמַּלְאָ֤ךְlam·mal·’āḵPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4397 messenger
who was destroying the peopleהַמַּשְׁחִית֙ham·maš·ḥîṯArticle; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH7843 go to ruin (?)
Enoughרַ֔בraḇAdverbH7227 much, many, great
Withdrawהֶ֣רֶףhe·rep̄Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularH7503 sink, relax
your handיָדֶ֑ךָyā·ḏe·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3027 hand
nowעַתָּ֖ה‘at·tāhAdverbH6258 now
At that time the angelוּמַלְאַ֤ךְū·mal·’aḵConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
was standingעֹמֵ֔ד‘ō·mêḏVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5975 take one's stand, stand
byעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
the threshing floorגֹּ֖רֶןgō·renNoun - feminine singular constructH1637 threshing-floor
of Ornanאָרְנָ֥ן’ā·rə·nānNoun - proper - masculine singularH771 Ornan
the Jebusiteהַיְבוּסִֽי׃סhay·ḇū·sîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH2983 Jebusite, Jebusites

1 Chronicles 21:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When Davidדָוִ֜ידḏā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֨אway·yiś·śāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5375 lift, take, carry
his eyesעֵינָ֗יו‘ê·nāwNoun - cdc; third person masculine singularH5869 eye
and sawוַיַּ֞רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
the angelמַלְאַ֤ךְmal·’aḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4397 messenger
of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
standingעֹמֵ֗ד‘ō·mêḏVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5975 take one's stand, stand
betweenבֵּ֤יןbênPrepositionH996 interval, space between
heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםhaš·šā·ma·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH8064 sky, aloft
andוּבֵ֣יןū·ḇênConjunctive waw; PrepositionH996 interval, space between
earthהָאָ֙רֶץ֙hā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
with a drawnשְׁלוּפָה֙šə·lū·p̄āhVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularH8025 draw out, off
swordוְחַרְבּ֤וֹwə·ḥar·bōwConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2719 sword
in his handבְּיָד֔וֹbə·yā·ḏōwPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand
stretched outנְטוּיָ֖הnə·ṭū·yāhVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularH5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
overעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םyə·rū·šā·limNoun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
Davidדָּוִ֧ידdā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and the eldersוְהַזְּקֵנִ֛יםwə·haz·zə·qê·nîmConjunctive waw, Article; Adjective - masculine pluralH2205 old
clothedמְכֻסִּ֥יםmə·ḵus·sîmVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine pluralH3680 cover
in sackclothבַּשַּׂקִּ֖יםbaś·śaq·qîmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH8242 sack, sackcloth
fellוַיִּפֹּ֨לway·yip·pōlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie
facedownפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃pə·nê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH6440 face, before

1 Chronicles 21:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Davidדָּוִ֣ידdā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶֽל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Godהָאֱלֹהִ֡יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
Was it notהֲלֹא֩hă·lōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
Iאֲנִ֨י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
who gave the orderאָמַ֜רְתִּי’ā·mar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
to countלִמְנ֣וֹתlim·nō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH4487 count, number, reckon, assign
the peopleבָּעָ֗םbā·‘āmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
Iוַאֲנִי־wa·’ă·nî-Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
am the oneה֤וּאhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
whoאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
has sinnedחָטָ֙אתִי֙ḥā·ṭā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH2398 miss
and acted wickedlyוְהָרֵ֣עַwə·hā·rê·a‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH7489 be evil, bad
But theseוְאֵ֥לֶּהwə·’êl·lehConjunctive waw; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
sheepהַצֹּ֖אןhaṣ·ṣōnArticle; Noun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
whatמֶ֣הmehInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have they doneעָשׂ֑וּ‘ā·śūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH6213 do, make
O LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י’ĕ·lō·hayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH430 God
pleaseנָ֤אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
let Your handיָֽדְךָ֙yā·ḏə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3027 hand
fall uponתְּהִ֨יtə·hîVerb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
meבִּ֚יbîPreposition; first person common singular
and my father’sאָבִ֔י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
houseוּבְבֵ֣יתū·ḇə·ḇêṯConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
but do notלֹ֥אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
let this plagueלְמַגֵּפָֽה׃סlə·mag·gê·p̄āhPreposition-l; Noun - feminine singularH4046 blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence
remain upon Your peopleוּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ū·ḇə·‘am·mə·ḵāConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5971 people

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Chronicles 21:13 Psalm 130:7 · Philippians 1:23 · Hebrews 10:31 · Isaiah 55:7 · John 12:27

1 Chronicles 21:14 2 Kings 19:35 · Numbers 16:46–49 · 1 Samuel 6:19 · Numbers 25:9 · 2 Samuel 24:15 · Exodus 12:30 · 1 Chronicles 27:24

1 Chronicles 21:15 Genesis 6:6 · Exodus 32:14 · Mark 14:41 · Jeremiah 26:18 · Matthew 23:37–38

1 Chronicles 21:16 Numbers 14:5 · 1 Kings 21:27 · Joshua 5:13–14 · Jonah 3:6–8 · Psalm 35:13–14 · 2 Kings 6:17 · Exodus 14:19–20 · Genesis 3:24 · Numbers 16:22 · Numbers 22:31

1 Chronicles 21:17 Ezekiel 16:63

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.