Bible Strands
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks directly to the Lord immediately after Joab reports the census totals of 800,000 men in Israel and 500,000 in Judah. His speech occurs the moment the troop count is completed.
The words — The Hebrew phrase וַיִּכֶּן לֵב־דָּוִד (va.yi.khen lev-David) literally translates to "and David's heart struck him." This reaction follows the verb סָפַר (sa.far), "he had counted," marking the immediate consequence of the census.
The thread — David’s admission of sin parallels his earlier confession to Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:13 and fulfills the pattern in Proverbs 28:13 where confessed sin receives mercy. His self-diagnosis of foolishness echoes Samuel’s rebuke in 1 Samuel 13:13.
Why it lands — The text records David’s explicit statement of fault and his direct petition for God to remove his iniquity. It requires a reader to recognize that acknowledging foolish action and requesting mercy must precede any further divine response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 13:13 “You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
- Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- 1 Samuel 24:5 Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
- 1 Chronicles 21:8 Then 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.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Deuteronomy 32:6 Is this how you repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is He not your Father and Creator? Has He not made you and established you?
- 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
- 2 Chronicles 32:26 Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.