2 Samuel 24:14
New International Version
David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

New Living Translation
“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

English Standard Version
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

New American Standard Bible
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

NASB 1995
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

NASB 1977
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of Yahweh, for His compassions are abundant. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Amplified Bible
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hands of man.”

Christian Standard Bible
David answered Gad, “I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the LORD’s hands because his mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David answered Gad, “I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the LORD’s hands because His mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.”

American Standard Version
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.

Contemporary English Version
David was really frightened and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the LORD is kind, and I'd rather be punished by him than by anyone else."

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm in a desperate situation," David told Gad. "Please let us fall into the LORD's hands because he is very merciful. But don't let me fall into human hands."

Good News Translation
David answered, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the LORD himself be the one to punish us, for he is merciful."

International Standard Version
So David replied to Gad, "This is a very difficult choice for me to make! Let me now please fall into the hand of the LORD, since his mercy is very great, but may I never fall into human hands!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
David said to Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the LORD, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"

New Heart English Bible
David said to Gad, "All of them are difficult for me. Only let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into the hand of man."

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to 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.

World English Bible
David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand, for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says to Gad, “I have great distress; please let us fall into the hand of YHWH, for His mercies [are] many, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto Gad, 'I have great distress, let us fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for many are His mercies, and into the hand of man let me not fall.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say to Gad, Straits to me exceedingly: now we will fall into the hand of Jehovah, for many his compassions; and into the hand of man I will not fall.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then David said to Gad: “I am in great anguish. But it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.”

New American Bible
David answered Gad: “I am greatly distressed. But let us fall into the hand of God, whose mercy is great, rather than into human hands.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into human hands.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then David answered and said to the prophet Gad, I am greatly distressed; it is better for me to be punished by the hand of the LORD our God; for his mercies are great: let us not be punished by the hand of men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
David answered and he said to Gad the Prophet: “It is very grievous to me; it is better for us that we will be handed over into the hands of LORD JEHOVAH our God for his abundant compassion, and we will not be handed over into the hands of the sons of men”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to Gad, On every side I am much straitened: let me fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his compassions are very many; and let me not fall into the hands of man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment for David's Sin
13So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.” 14David 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.”

Cross References
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.”

Psalm 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.

Psalm 103:8-14
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. ...

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

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.

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.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Luke 1:50
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Romans 9:15-16
For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” / So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, / made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


Treasury of Scripture

And David said to 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.

I am in

1 Samuel 13:6
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

2 Kings 6:15
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

John 12:27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

for his

Exodus 34:6,7
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, …

1 Chronicles 21:13
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

Psalm 51:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

great.

2 Kings 13:3-7
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days…

2 Chronicles 28:5-9
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter…

Psalm 106:41,42
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them…

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David Decision Deep Distress Fall Gad Great Hand Hands Hard Mercies Mercy Strait
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David Decision Deep Distress Fall Gad Great Hand Hands Hard Mercies Mercy Strait
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














David answered Gad,
David, the second king of Israel, is responding to Gad, a prophet who served as David's seer. Gad's role as a prophet is significant, as prophets were God's messengers to the people and the king. This interaction highlights the importance of divine guidance in the leadership of Israel. Gad's presence indicates that David is seeking God's will through a recognized and respected channel.

“I am deeply distressed.
David's distress is a result of his conscience and the consequences of his actions. Earlier in the chapter, David had conducted a census of Israel, which was against God's will, leading to divine displeasure. This phrase reflects David's awareness of his sin and the heavy burden of leadership, where his decisions have national implications. It also shows his humility and recognition of his need for God's mercy.

Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD,
David chooses to trust in God's mercy rather than human judgment. This decision reflects his understanding of God's character as just and merciful. Falling into the hand of the LORD implies submitting to divine judgment, which, though severe, is tempered by God's compassion. This choice demonstrates David's faith and reliance on God's nature rather than human unpredictability.

for His mercies are great;
David acknowledges the vastness of God's mercy, which is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. This recognition is rooted in the history of Israel, where God's mercy repeatedly spared the nation despite their disobedience. The phrase echoes the sentiments found in Lamentations 3:22-23, where God's mercies are described as new every morning. It underscores the belief that God's compassion is limitless and reliable.

but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
David contrasts divine mercy with human cruelty. Human judgment can be harsh and unforgiving, lacking the compassion that characterizes God's dealings with His people. This statement reflects a deep understanding of human nature and the potential for injustice and brutality. It also highlights the biblical theme of trusting in God over man, as seen in passages like Psalm 118:8, which states it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The King of Israel who is faced with the consequences of his actions and must choose between three forms of divine judgment.

2. Gad
A prophet who delivers God's message to David, offering him a choice of punishments.

3. The LORD
The God of Israel, known for His mercy and justice, who offers David a choice of consequences for his sin.

4. Israel
The nation under David's rule, which is affected by the king's decision and the subsequent divine judgment.

5. The Plague
One of the three options of judgment presented to David, which he ultimately chooses, trusting in God's mercy.
Teaching Points
Trust in God's Mercy
David's choice to fall into the hands of the LORD rather than man underscores a profound trust in God's merciful nature. Believers are encouraged to rely on God's mercy in times of distress.

The Consequences of Sin
This passage serves as a reminder that sin has consequences, not only for the individual but also for the community. It calls for personal accountability and repentance.

God's Sovereignty and Justice
The event illustrates God's sovereign right to judge and His just nature. It encourages believers to submit to God's will, trusting in His perfect justice.

Repentance and Restoration
David's response to his sin and the subsequent judgment highlights the importance of genuine repentance and the hope of restoration through God's mercy.

The Role of Prophets
Gad's role as a messenger of God emphasizes the importance of heeding prophetic voices and divine guidance in decision-making.(14) Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord. Here the spirit of David in his earlier years reappears; he chooses that form of punishment which seems to him most directly and immediately dependent upon God Himself. He places himself in His hands rather than suffer those other punishments in which the will of man seemed to have a greater share. And it may be noticed also that he chooses that form of punishment from which his own royal position would afford him no immunity.

Verse 14. - Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah. David had sinned against God, and to God he humbly submitted himself. There would thus be nothing to come between the soul and God, and prevent the chastisement from having its due effect upon the heart. A famine would indeed equally come from God, but would necessitate effort and exertion on man's part. In the pestilence he would wait patiently, nor look to anything but prayer for averting God's judgment. In Psalm 51:1 David refers to God's mercies, in much the same way as here, as being a motive to repentance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

Gad,
גָּ֖ד (gāḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1410: Gad -- a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its territory, also a prophet

“I am
לִ֣י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

deeply
מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

distressed.
צַר־ (ṣar-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

Please,
נָּ֤א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let us fall
נִפְּלָה־ (nip·pə·lāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

into the hands
בְיַד־ (ḇə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

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

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

His mercies [are]
רַֽחֲמָ֔יו (ra·ḥă·māw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden

great;
רַבִּ֣ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

but do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let me fall
אֶפֹּֽלָה׃ (’ep·pō·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

into the hands
וּבְיַד־ (ū·ḇə·yaḏ-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of men.”
אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT History: 2 Samuel 24:14 David said to Gad I am (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 24:13
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