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1 Chronicles 21:8

in 1 Chronicles 21

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.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

KJV

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

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This verse in 1 Chronicles 21

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

evil in the sight of God

on 1 Chronicles 21:7-8

The text calls the command “evil in the sight of God” before any sentence is announced, and adds “so He struck Israel”. David confesses, “I have sinned greatly”, in words close to those of 2 Samuel 24:10. He calls his act foolish, “for I have acted very foolishly”.

This site's exposition

take away the iniquity of

David confesses before Gad brings the three options. He calls his act very foolish and asks God to take away his guilt. Matthew Henry names the root of the census as pride of heart and says the sin was David's alone to bear.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Now he owned that he had sinned, had sinned greatly, had done foolishly, very foolishly; and he entreated that, however he might be corrected for it, the iniquity of it might be done away. He accepted the punishment of his iniquity: "Let thy hand be on me, and on my father's house,

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

The sad dilemma (or trilemma rather) he was brought to, when it was put to him to choose how he would be punished for this sin, and what rod he would be beaten with,

The words behind it

20 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • דָּוִיד֙David

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים<the> God

    haelohimH430 →2601 times

  • חָטָ֣אתִֽיI have sinned

    chatatiH2398 →

  • מְאֹ֔דexceedingly

    meodH3966 →300 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֥רthat

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • עָשִׂ֖יתִיI have done

    ʾasitiH6213 →2628 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הַדָּבָ֣רthe thing

    hadavarH1697 →1440 times

  • הַזֶּ֑ה<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • וְעַתָּ֗הand now

    veatahH6258 →433 times

  • הַֽעֲבֶר־cause to pass away

    haaver-H5674 →556 times

  • נָא֙please

    na'H4994 →404 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • עֲו֣וֹן[the] guilt of

    avonH5771 →

  • עַבְדְּךָ֔servant your

    ʾavdekhaH5650 →799 times

  • כִּ֥יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּיI have acted foolishly

    niskaltiH5528 →

  • מְאֹֽד׃ פexceedingly

    meodH3966 →300 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”8 works2 Samuel 12:13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.4 works2 Samuel 24:10After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”3 works1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.2 works1 Samuel 13:13“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.2 worksLuke 15:18–19I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.2 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah2 worksJeremiah 3:13Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.2 worksHosea 14:2Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.2 worksGenesis 34:7When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.2 worksJohn 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!2 worksPsalms 25:11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.2 works2 Chronicles 10:9He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”2 works1 Samuel 26:21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”2 works2 Samuel 13:13Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”2 worksPsalms 51:1–3Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.2 works1 Chronicles 21:17And 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.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 John 1:9

    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 28:13

      He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 32:5

      Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

    • Jeremiah 33:8

      And I will cleanse them from all the iniquity they have committed against Me, and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.

    • Psalms 51:2–5

      Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

    • 1 John 1:7

      But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 12:13

    Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 51:4

      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.

    • 2 Samuel 24:10

      After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away…

    • Zechariah 3:4

      So the angel said to those standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes!” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have removed your iniquity, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.”

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Chronicles

King David Playing the Harp, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622. Public domain.
King David Playing the Harp, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622. Public domain.
1 Chronicles: the study guide →Read 1 Chronicles 21 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Chronicles 21 →