1 Chronicles 21:17
New International Version
David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? LORD my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

New Living Translation
And David said to God, “I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O LORD my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.”

English Standard Version
And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

New King James Version
And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

New American Standard Bible
And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? LORD, my God, just let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, and not against Your people as a plague.”

NASB 1995
David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

NASB 1977
And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Thy hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Thy people that they should be plagued.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to number the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done a great evil; but these sheep, what have they done? O Yahweh my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

Amplified Bible
David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded the people to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done evil; but as for these sheep [the people of Israel], what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”

Christian Standard Bible
David said to God, “Wasn’t I the one who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? LORD my God, please let your hand be against me and against my father’s family, but don’t let the plague be against your people.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David said to God, “Wasn’t I the one who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? My LORD God, please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s family, but don’t let the plague be against Your people.”

American Standard Version
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.

Contemporary English Version
and David prayed, "It's my fault! I sinned by ordering the people to be counted. They have done nothing wrong--they are innocent sheep. LORD God, please punish me and my family. Don't let the disease wipe out your people."

English Revised Version
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David said to God, "I'm the one who ordered the people to be counted. I am the one who sinned and did wrong. What have these sheep done? LORD my God, let your punishment be against me and my father's family, but don't punish your people with a plague."

Good News Translation
David prayed, "O God, I am the one who did wrong. I am the one who ordered the census. What have these poor people done? LORD, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people."

International Standard Version
David told God, "Wasn't I the one who ordered the census of the population? Wasn't it I who sinned and acted wickedly? Now as for these sheep, what have they done? LORD God, please let your hand be against me and my ancestral household, but don't let your people be ravaged by plague!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.”

NET Bible
David said to God, "Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! As for these sheep--what have they done? O LORD my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!"

New Heart English Bible
David said to God, "Isn't it I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued."

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be afflicted.

World English Bible
David said to God, “Isn’t it I who commanded the people to be counted? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me and against my father’s house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says to God, “Did I not command to number the people? Indeed, it [is] I who have sinned, and done great evil: and these, the flock, what did they do? O YHWH, my God, please let Your hand be on me, and on the house of my father, and not on Your people—to be plagued.”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto God, 'Did not I -- I say to number the people? Yea, I it is who have sinned, and done great evil: and these, the flock, what did they? O Jehovah, my God, let, I pray Thee, Thy hand be on me, and on the house of my father, and not on Thy people -- to be plagued.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say to God, Is it not I who said to number in the people? and I am he who sinned, and doing evil I did evil; and these sheep, what did they? O Jehovah my God, thy hand now shall be upon me and upon my father's house; and not to smite upon thy people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to God: Am not I he that commanded the people to be numbered? It is I that have sinned: it is I that have done the evil: but as for this flock, what hath it deserved? O Lord my God, let thy hand be turned, I beseech thee, upon me, and upon my father's house: and let not thy people be destroyed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And David said to God: “Am I not the one who ordered that the people be numbered? It is I who sinned; it is I who did evil. This flock, what does it deserve? O Lord my God, I beg you to let your hand be turned against me and against the house of my father. But let not your people be struck down.”

New American Bible
and David prayed to God: “Was it not I who ordered the census of the people? I am the one who sinned, I did this wicked thing. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD, my God, strike me and my father’s family, but do not afflict your people with this plague!”

New Revised Standard Version
And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the command to count the people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house; but do not let your people be plagued!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David said to the LORD, Is it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is who have sinned, and the folly which I have committed is great; but as for these innocent sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house; but let the plague cease from the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David said to LORD JEHOVAH: “I am he who said, “Number the people”, and I am he who has sinned, and the evil that I have committed is very great, but these innocent sheep, what have they done? LORD JEHOVAH, my God, let your hand be against me and against the house of my father, and let the plague be stopped from the people!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said unto God: 'Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let Thy hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against Thy people, that they should be plagued.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to God, Was it not I that gave orders to number the people? and I am the guilty one; I have greatly sinned: but these sheep, what have they done? O Lord God, let thy hand be upon me, and upon my father's house, and not on thy people for destruction, O Lord!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Plague on Israel
16When 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. 17And 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.”

Cross References
2 Samuel 24:17
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.”

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?”

Numbers 16:47-48
So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. / He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.

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.”

2 Samuel 24:1
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

2 Samuel 24:15-16
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. / But 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.

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.

Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.

Daniel 9:16-19
O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us. / So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. / Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. ...

Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And David said to God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let your hand, I pray you, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on your people, that they should be plagued.

It is not I

1 Chronicles 21:8
And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

2 Samuel 24:17
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.

Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

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.

what have

2 Samuel 24:1
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

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.

Exodus 32:32,33
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written…

John 10:11,12
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…

on my father's

Exodus 20:5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

2 Samuel 12:10
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Psalm 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

that they should

Joshua 22:18
But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

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1 Chronicles 21
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it
9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence
14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor;
26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire.
28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel














And David said to God
This phrase marks a direct communication between David and God, highlighting the personal relationship and accountability David feels. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a declaration or confession, indicating David's earnestness in addressing God. Historically, this reflects the theocratic nature of Israel, where leaders were expected to communicate directly with God, especially in times of crisis.

Was it not I who gave the order to count the people?
David acknowledges his responsibility for the census, which was against God's will. The act of counting the people, in this context, was seen as a reliance on human strength rather than divine provision. The Hebrew word for "count" (פָּקַד, paqad) can also mean to muster or appoint, suggesting a military or administrative intent that disregarded God's sovereignty.

I am the one who has sinned and acted very wickedly
David's confession is profound, as he uses two terms for his wrongdoing: "sinned" (חָטָא, chata) and "acted very wickedly" (הֵרַע, hera). The former implies missing the mark or falling short of God's standards, while the latter suggests a deliberate evil action. This dual acknowledgment underscores the gravity of his actions and his understanding of sin's impact.

but these sheep, what have they done?
David refers to the people of Israel as "sheep," a metaphor that evokes the image of a shepherd caring for his flock. This reflects David's role as a king and shepherd of his people, echoing Psalm 23. The rhetorical question emphasizes the innocence of the people, who suffer due to their leader's sin, highlighting the communal consequences of personal sin.

O LORD my God
This invocation is deeply personal, combining the covenant name of God (YHWH) with "my God," indicating a personal relationship and trust. It reflects David's reliance on God's mercy and his understanding of God's character as both just and compassionate.

let Your hand fall upon me and my father's house
David offers himself and his family as a substitute for the punishment, demonstrating a willingness to bear the consequences of his actions. The "hand" of God often symbolizes power and judgment in the Hebrew Bible, and David's plea is for that judgment to be redirected from the people to himself.

but do not let this plague remain upon Your people
David's intercession for the people is a selfless act of leadership, prioritizing their well-being over his own. The term "plague" (דֶּבֶר, deber) refers to a devastating disease or disaster, often seen as divine retribution. David's plea is for God's mercy to be extended to the people, sparing them from further suffering.

(17) And David said unto God.--Sam., "Jehovah." Samuel adds, "when he saw the angel that smote the people" (see our 1Chronicles 21:16); "and he said."

Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered?--Literally, to number the people. In Samuel these words are wanting. They may have been added by the chronicler for the sake of clearness. "though they may also have formed part of the original narrative.

Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed.--Samuel reads, "Lo, I" (different pronoun) "have sinned, and I have dealt crookedly." Our text here may be paraphrastic, but hardly a corruption of the older one.

But as for these sheep, what . . . father's house.--Verbatim as in Samuel, save that the appeal, "O Lord my God," is wanting there. (Literally, But these, the sheep. The king was the shepherd.)

But not on thy people, that they should be plagued.--Literally, and on thy people, not for a plague. The strangeness of this order makes it likely that these words comprise two marginal notes, or glosses, which have crept into the text. They are not read in Samuel.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and David
דָּוִ֣יד (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

God,
הָאֱלֹהִ֡ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

“Was it not
הֲלֹא֩ (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

I
אֲנִ֨י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

who gave the order
אָמַ֜רְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to count
לִמְנ֣וֹת (lim·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4487: To weigh out, to allot, constitute officially, to enumerate, enroll

the people?
בָּעָ֗ם (bā·‘ām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

I, [the shepherd],
וַאֲנִי־ (wa·’ă·nî-)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am the one
ה֤וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

has 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
וְהָרֵ֣עַ (wə·hā·rê·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

acted wickedly.
הֲרֵע֔וֹתִי (hă·rê·‘ō·w·ṯî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

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

O LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

my God,
אֱלֹהַ֗י (’ĕ·lō·hay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

please
נָ֤א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let Your hand
יָֽדְךָ֙ (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
בִּ֚י (bî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 0: 0

and my father’s
אָבִ֔י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

house,
וּבְבֵ֣ית (ū·ḇə·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

but do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

let this plague
לְמַגֵּפָֽה׃ (lə·mag·gê·p̄āh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4046: A blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence

remain upon Your people.”
וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ (ū·ḇə·‘am·mə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:17 David said to God Isn't it (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
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