1 Chronicles 21:17 “And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the p…”

1 Chronicles 21:17

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James 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 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.

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 LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.”

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Dauid said vnto God, Is it not I that commanded to nomber the people? It is euen I that haue sinned and haue committed euil, but these sheepe what haue they done? O Lord my God, I beseech thee, let thine hande be on me and on my fathers house, and not on thy people for their destruction.

Darby Translation

And David said to God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? It is I that have sinned and done evil; but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray thee, Jehovah my God, be on me and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be smitten.

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.'

Bible in Basic English

And David said to God, Was it not I who gave the order for the people to be numbered? It is I who have done the sin and the great wrong; but these are only sheep; what have they done? let your hand, O Lord God, be lifted up against me and against my family, but not against your people to send disease on them.

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Cross references

“Is it not I”

Ezekiel 16:63 1 Chronicles 21:8 2 Samuel 24:17 Psalm 51:4

Ezekiel 16:63 · BSB

so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”

1 Chronicles 21:8 · BSB

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 Samuel 24:17 · BSB

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 ho…

Psalm 51:4 · BSB

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

“these sheep”

1 Kings 22:17 Psalm 44:11

1 Kings 22:17 · BSB

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.’”

Psalm 44:11 · BSB

You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.

“what have”

2 Samuel 24:1

2 Samuel 24:1 · BSB

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.”

“let thine”

Genesis 44:33 Romans 9:3 1 John 3:16 Exodus 32:32 Exodus 32:33 John 10:11

Genesis 44:33 · BSB

Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

Romans 9:3 · BSB

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

1 John 3:16 · BSB

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Exodus 32:32 · BSB

Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

Exodus 32:33 · BSB

The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book.

John 10:11 · BSB

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

“on my father's”

Exodus 20:5 2 Samuel 12:10 Psalm 51:14 Isaiah 39:7 Isaiah 39:8

Exodus 20:5 · BSB

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

2 Samuel 12:10 · BSB

Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

Psalm 51:14 · BSB

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

Isaiah 39:7 · BSB

And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

Isaiah 39:8 · BSB

But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

“that they should”

Joshua 22:18

Joshua 22:18 · BSB

And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

Also

2 Samuel 7:8 Psalm 74:1

2 Samuel 7:8 · BSB

Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

Psalm 74:1 · BSB

Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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.

18Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Read 1 Chronicles 21