2 Samuel 24:17
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.”

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).”

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!"

Majority 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.”

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.

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 Version
And 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.”

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 Bible
And 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 Bible
Then 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 1917
And 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
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
Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

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?”

1 Kings 18:36-37
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.”

Psalm 51:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. / Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. / For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ...

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.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Jeremiah 14:7
Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Daniel 9:4-5
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, / we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

Matthew 27:24-25
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” / All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

John 11:50-52
You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” / Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, / and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.

Acts 3:14-15
You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. / You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.

Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


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…

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Angel David Father's Hand House Iniquitously Perversely Please Sheep Sinned Smote Striking Struck Wickedly Wrong
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2 Samuel 24
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. 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
The Hebrew word for "angel" is "מַלְאָךְ" (mal'akh), which means "messenger." In the context of the Old Testament, angels often served as divine agents executing God's will. Here, the angel is a visible manifestation of God's judgment. David's ability to see the angel signifies a moment of divine revelation and accountability, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the direct connection between divine judgment and human leadership.

striking down the people
The phrase "striking down" comes from the Hebrew root "נָכָה" (nakah), meaning to smite or kill. This action reflects the severity of God's judgment due to David's sin of conducting a census, which was seen as an act of pride and reliance on military strength rather than on God. The historical context reveals the gravity of leadership sins affecting the entire nation, a theme consistent throughout the Scriptures.

he said to the LORD
David's direct address to the LORD, using the covenant name "Yahweh" (יהוה), indicates a personal and covenantal relationship. This moment of prayer and confession highlights the importance of turning to God in times of crisis, acknowledging His sovereignty and seeking His mercy.

Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned
The term "shepherd" (רֹעֶה, ro'eh) is significant, as it underscores David's role as the leader and caretaker of Israel. By identifying himself as the shepherd, David acknowledges his responsibility for the people. The imagery of a shepherd is deeply rooted in biblical tradition, symbolizing guidance, protection, and care, as seen in Psalm 23 and John 10.

I, the shepherd, have done wrong
David's repetition of his role as shepherd emphasizes his personal accountability. The Hebrew word for "done wrong" is "עָוָה" (avah), meaning to act perversely or to commit iniquity. This confession is a model of humility and repentance, recognizing the moral failure and its consequences.

But these sheep, what have they done?
The metaphor of "sheep" (צֹאן, tson) for the people of Israel highlights their innocence in this specific judgment. David's plea reflects a deep sense of justice and compassion, recognizing that the people suffer due to his actions. This intercessory prayer is reminiscent of Moses' advocacy for Israel, demonstrating a leader's heart for his people.

Please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house
David's request for the LORD's "hand" (יָד, yad) to fall upon him instead of the people is a profound act of self-sacrifice. The "hand" of God often symbolizes power and judgment. By asking for the judgment to be redirected to himself and his family, David exemplifies the ultimate responsibility of leadership and foreshadows the sacrificial nature of Christ, who bore the sins of humanity. This plea for substitutionary atonement is a powerful testament to the themes of justice, mercy, and redemption woven throughout the biblical narrative.

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 David
דָּוִ֨ד (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


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OT History: 2 Samuel 24:17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 24:16
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