2 Samuel 24:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David chooses to fall into the LORD's hand rather than man's, trusting in God's great mercy.
What Does 2 Samuel 24:14 Mean?
Caught in a great strait, David makes his choice with remarkable clarity. He will not place himself at the mercy of men; he casts himself instead upon the LORD, because His mercies are great. The decision rests entirely on what David knows of God's character.
Here is faith speaking in the hardest hour. David would rather be disciplined directly by God than handed over to human cruelty, for he trusts that even God's judgment is tempered with compassion. To fall into the hand of the LORD is to fall upon mercy. This is the refuge of every believer: that the God before whom we have sinned is also the God whose lovingkindness is vast beyond measure.
2 Samuel 24:14 in the Original Language
rachamim (רַחֲמִים), 'mercies' -- tender compassion, like that of a parent toward a child.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 24:14
What does 2 Samuel 24:14 mean?
David chooses to fall into the LORD's hand rather than man's, trusting in God's great mercy.