2 Samuel 24:17
2 Samuel 24:17 in Multiple Translations
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.”
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.
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.
And when David saw the angel who was causing the destruction of the people, he said to the Lord, Truly, the sin is mine; I have done wrong: but these are only sheep; what have they done? let your hand be against me and against my family.
When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I'm the one who has sinned; I'm the one who has done wrong. These people are just sheep. What have they done? Punish me and my family instead.”
And Dauid spake vnto the Lord (when he sawe the Angel that smote the people) and saide, Behold, I haue sinned, yea, I haue done wickedly: but these sheepe, what haue they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against mee and against my fathers house.
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.'
David spoke to the LORD 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.”
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.
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.
When David saw the angel who was causing the people to become sick and die, he said to Yahweh, “Truly, I am the one who has committed the sin. I have done a very wicked thing, but these people are as innocent as sheep [MET]. They have certainly not [RHQ] done anything that is wrong. So you should punish [IDM] me and my family, not these people!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Samuel 24:17
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2 Samuel 24:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Samuel 24:17
Study Notes — 2 Samuel 24:17
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Samuel 24:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
- Sermons on 2 Samuel 24:17
Context — A Plague on Israel
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.”
18And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 74:1 | Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 21:16–17 | 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. 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.” |
| 3 | 2 Samuel 24:10 | After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” |
| 4 | Ezekiel 34:23–24 | I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd. I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken. |
| 5 | Job 42:6 | Therefore I retract my words, and I repent in dust and ashes.” |
| 6 | Isaiah 6:5 | Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” |
| 7 | Job 7:20 | If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You ? |
| 8 | 1 Kings 22:17 | So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” |
| 9 | Ezekiel 34:2–6 | “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ |
| 10 | John 10:11–12 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. |
2 Samuel 24:17 Summary
[In 2 Samuel 24:17, David takes responsibility for the sin of the people and asks God to punish him instead, showing his love and concern for them. This is similar to how Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon Himself (Romans 5:8). David's actions demonstrate what it means to be a true leader and a shepherd, caring for the well-being of those under his care. By acknowledging his role in the people's sin and taking responsibility, David shows us the importance of humility and accountability in our own lives, as seen in Proverbs 28:13.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did David take responsibility for the sin of the people in 2 Samuel 24:17?
David took responsibility because as the leader, he felt the weight of the people's sin and acknowledged his role in it, as seen in his statement 'Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly' (2 Samuel 24:17), similar to how Moses interceded for the people in Exodus 32:31-32.
What does it mean that David called himself a 'shepherd' in this verse?
By calling himself a 'shepherd', David was acknowledging his role as a leader and caretaker of the people, much like Jesus refers to Himself as the 'Good Shepherd' in John 10:11, emphasizing his responsibility for their well-being and protection.
Why did David ask for God's judgment to fall on him and his family instead of the people?
David asked for God's judgment to fall on him and his family because he was willing to take the punishment upon himself to spare the people, demonstrating his love and concern for them, much like Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon Himself (Romans 5:8).
How does this verse relate to the concept of substitutionary atonement?
This verse foreshadows the concept of substitutionary atonement, where one person takes the punishment for another, as seen in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins (Isaiah 53:5, Romans 3:25), and David's willingness to take the punishment for his people demonstrates a similar principle of substitutionary atonement.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can demonstrate leadership and responsibility in my own life, like David did in this verse?
- How can I balance my desire for justice with my desire for mercy, like David did when he asked for God's judgment to fall on him instead of the people?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to take responsibility for my actions, and how can I do that in a way that honors God?
- How can I show love and concern for those around me, like David did when he asked for God's judgment to fall on him and his family instead of the people?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 24:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 24:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
Cambridge Bible on 2 Samuel 24:17
Barnes' Notes on 2 Samuel 24:17
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Samuel 24:17
Sermons on 2 Samuel 24:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Through the Bible) 1 Chronicles 20-29 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the beauty of constant worship and praises being offered to God. He mentions how in the times of David, there were four thousand men dedicat |
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National Sins and Miseries by John Wesley | John Wesley preaches on the theme of national sins and the resulting miseries, drawing parallels between the sins of ancient Israel and contemporary England. He emphasizes that the |
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A Time to Cry by David Legge | In this sermon, the speaker laments the current state of society, where the preaching of the word of God is disregarded and mocked. The speaker questions the absence of divine inte |
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God's Hatchet by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of idolatry and the deception that has taken hold of the church. He emphasizes the importance of seeking God and warns against the |
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The Spirit of Prophecy by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of prophecy in the church, explaining that in the new covenant, prophecy is for exhortation, consolation, and edification. Without the propheti |
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True and False Prophets by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the danger of false prophets who use flattery to draw people to themselves, contrasting them with true prophets who rebuke with love. He highlights the import |
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Psalm 74: Crucified Faith by Art Katz | Art Katz explores the theme of 'Crucified Faith' in Psalm 74, emphasizing the psalmist's cry of despair amidst the devastation of God's sanctuary. He highlights the importance of r |






