Bible Strands
2 Samuel 24:14
David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to the prophet Gad immediately after Gad presents three punishment options for the census.
The words — The Hebrew צַר מְאֹד (tzar me'od) literally means "extreme distress," while נִפְלָה נָּא (nipleh na) translates to "let us fall, please."
The thread — The text records David's identical choice in 1 Chronicles 21:13, and the phrase "His mercies are great" parallels the mercy declarations in Psalms 119:156 and Psalms 51:1.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to acknowledge that human judgment operates on immediate retribution while divine judgment operates on sovereign mercy.
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 said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Cross-references
- Psalms 119:156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances.
- Psalms 51:1 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.
- 1 Chronicles 21:13 David 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.”
- Jonah 4:2 So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.
- Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
- Psalms 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.
- Psalms 106:41 He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
- Psalms 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
- Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.
- Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.