1 Chronicles 21:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David chooses to fall into the LORD's hand, trusting in the greatness of His mercy.
What Does 1 Chronicles 21:13 Mean?
David answers from anguish: "I am in a great strait." Yet his choice is clear. He will not be handed over to men but will fall into the hand of the Lord, because "very great are his mercies." Even under judgment, David runs toward God.
This is faith at its purest, trusting the mercy of God more than the kindness of men. David would rather be disciplined by the One who loves him than spared by those who do not. His confidence in divine compassion reaches forward to the cross, where the hand that judges and the hand that saves are revealed as one. To fall into God's hands is fearful, but it is never to fall outside His love.
1 Chronicles 21:13 in the Original Language
rachamim (רַחֲמִים), 'mercies' -- tender compassion, like that of a parent.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 21:13
What does 1 Chronicles 21:13 mean?
David chooses to fall into the LORD's hand, trusting in the greatness of His mercy.