2 Samuel 24:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As the angel moves against Jerusalem, the LORD relents and stays the destroying hand at Araunah's threshing floor.
What Does 2 Samuel 24:16 Mean?
As the destroying angel stretches out his hand over Jerusalem, the LORD relents and commands, It is enough; stay your hand. The judgment halts at a specific place: the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, which now steps into the center of the story.
The word that God repented of the evil expresses His turning from judgment to mercy; grieved over the calamity, He stays the blow. The Holy One is moved with compassion toward His people and sets a limit to their suffering. And the very ground where mercy halts the plague will become the place of sacrifice, a pattern that points forward to where judgment is at last answered and stilled by an offering.
2 Samuel 24:16 in the Original Language
nacham (נָחַם), 'repented' -- to be moved with grief and to relent, turning from intended harm.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 24:16
What does 2 Samuel 24:16 mean?
As the angel moves against Jerusalem, the LORD relents and stays the destroying hand at Araunah's threshing floor.