1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 21:7–13

7This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.

8Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

9And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer, 10“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

11So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose 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.”

Footnotes

  • b 21:12 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate of fleeing; see 2 Samuel 24:13|2SA 24:13.

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 21:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
commandהַדָּבָ֖רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
was also evilוַיֵּ֙רַע֙way·yê·ra‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7489 be evil, bad
in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbə·‘ê·nêPreposition-b; Noun - cdcH5869 eye
of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
so He struckוַיַּ֖ךְway·yaḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5221 smite
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel

1 Chronicles 21:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Davidדָּוִיד֙dā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Godהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
I have sinnedחָטָ֣אתִֽיḥā·ṭā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH2398 miss
greatlyמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
becauseאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
I have doneעָשִׂ֖יתִי‘ā·śî·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
thingהַדָּבָ֣רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
Nowוְעַתָּ֗הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
I beg Youנָא֙nāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
to take awayהַֽעֲבֶר־ha·‘ă·ḇer-Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the iniquityעֲו֣וֹן‘ă·wō·wnNoun - common singular constructH5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
of Your servantעַבְדְּךָ֔‘aḇ·də·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
forכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I have acted veryמְאֹֽד׃פmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
foolishlyנִסְכַּ֖לְתִּיnis·kal·tîVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularH5528 be foolish, or a fool

1 Chronicles 21:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
instructedוַיְדַבֵּ֤רway·ḏab·bêrConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
Gadגָּ֔דgāḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1410 Gad
David’sדָוִ֖ידḏā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
seerחֹזֵ֥הḥō·zêhNoun - masculine singular constructH2374 seer

1 Chronicles 21:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Goלֵךְ֩lêḵVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
and tellוְדִבַּרְתָּ֨wə·ḏib·bar·tāConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularH1696 speak
Davidדָּוִ֜ידdā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
that this is whatכֹּ֚הkōhAdverbH3541 thus, here
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saysלֵאמֹ֗רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
Iאֲנִ֖י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
am offeringנֹטֶ֣הnō·ṭehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
you threeשָׁל֕וֹשׁšā·lō·wōšNumber - feminine singularH7969 a three, triad
Chooseבְּחַר־bə·ḥar-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH977 choose
oneאַחַ֥ת’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singularH259 one
of themמֵהֵ֖נָּהmê·hên·nāhPreposition; third person feminine plural
and I will carry it outוְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־wə·’e·‘ĕ·śeh-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularH6213 do, make
against youלָּֽךְ׃lāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular

1 Chronicles 21:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Gadגָ֖דḡāḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1410 Gad
wentוַיָּ֥בֹאway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
and saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֑ידdā·wîḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
This is whatכֹּֽה־kōh-AdverbH3541 thus, here
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saysאָמַ֥ר’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
You must chooseקַבֶּל־qab·bel-Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularH6901 receive, take

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

Cross-references

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

1 Chronicles 21:8 2 Samuel 12:13 · 1 John 1:9 · John 1:29

1 Chronicles 21:9 2 Samuel 24:11 · 1 Samuel 9:9 · 1 Chronicles 29:29

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

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.