2 Samuel 24:13 Meaning and Explanation
“So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Gad lays out the three options: years of famine, months of flight before enemies, or days of plague.
What Does 2 Samuel 24:13 Mean?
Gad spells out the choices: famine in the land, flight before pursuing enemies, or pestilence. Each is a grave affliction, differing in length and in the hand that would deliver it. Gad presses David to decide and tell him what answer to bring back.
Every path before David involves suffering, and there is no painless way through the consequence of sin. Yet the options differ in one crucial respect: whether David would fall under the cruelty of men or under the discipline of God. The choice will reveal where David's deepest trust lies, and his answer in the next verse shows a heart that knows the LORD's character even in judgment.
2 Samuel 24:13 in the Original Language
dever (דֶּבֶר), 'pestilence' -- a deadly plague understood as coming under the hand of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 24:13
What does 2 Samuel 24:13 mean?
Gad lays out the three options: years of famine, months of flight before enemies, or days of plague.