God’s Word Translation
1 Chronicles 21:12
12either three years of famine, or three months during which your enemies will chase you away when their swords catch up to you, or three days of the Lord’s sword—a plague in the land with the Messenger of the Lord destroying the whole country of Israel.’ Decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”
1 Chronicles 21:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
- New International Version (NIV)three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me."
- New King James Version (NKJV)either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord—the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”
Context of 1 Chronicles 21:12
10“Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I’m offering you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.’ ” 11When Gad came to David, he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your pick: either three years of famine, or three months during which your enemies will chase you away when their swords catch up to you, or three days of the Lord’s sword—a plague in the land with the Messenger of the Lord destroying the whole country of Israel.’ Decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.” 13“I’m in a desperate situation,” David told Gad. “Please let me fall into the Lord’s hands because he is extremely merciful. But don’t let me fall into human hands.” 14So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and 70,000 Israelites died.
Read all of 1 Chronicles 211 Chronicles 21:12 word by word
אִם־שָׁל֨וֹשׁ שָׁנִ֜ים רָעָ֗ב וְאִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה חֳדָשִׁ֜ים נִסְפֶּ֥ה מִפְּנֵי־צָרֶיךָ֮ וְחֶ֣רֶב אוֹיְבֶ֣ךָ׀ לְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒ וְאִם־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָ֠מִים חֶ֣רֶב יְהוָ֤ה וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה מַשְׁחִ֖ית בְּכָל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה רְאֵ֔ה מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Either threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- years’שָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- famineרָעָבrâ‛âb · famineH7458
- monthsחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
- to be destroyedסָפָהsâphâh · to snatchH5595
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thy foesצַרtsar tsâr · enemyH6862
- while that the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- of thine enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- overtakethנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
- orאִם'im · ifH518
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- even the pestilenceדֶּ֫בֶרdeber · pestilenceH1698
- in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and the angelמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messenger: angelH4397
- destroyingשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- throughout all the coastsגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- Now therefore adviseרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: selectH7200
- thyself what wordדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- I shall bring againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to him that sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 21:12
- 2 Samuel 24:13When Gad came to David, he told David this and asked, “Should seven years of famine come to you and your land, or three months during which you flee from your enemies as they pursue you, or should there be a three-day plague in your land? Think it over, and decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”
- Leviticus 26:26I will destroy your food supply. Ten women will need only one oven to prepare your food. You will eat and go away hungry.
- 2 Samuel 21:1In the time of David, there was a famine for three successive years, and David asked the Lord’s advice about it. The Lord answered, “It’s because of Saul and his family. They are guilty of murder because they killed the people of Gibeon.”
- 1 Kings 17:1Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
- 2 Kings 8:1Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Go away with your family. Stay wherever you can. The Lord has decided to send a famine on this country, and it will last seven years.”
- Lamentations 4:9Those who were killed with swords are better off than those who are dying from starvation. Those who were stabbed bled to death. The others are dying because there is nothing in the fields to eat.
- Luke 4:25“I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.
- Leviticus 26:17I will condemn you so that you will go down in defeat in front of your enemies. Those who hate you will be your rulers. You will run away even when no one is chasing you.
- Deuteronomy 28:15Obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don’t, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you:
- Jeremiah 42:16Then the wars you fear will catch up with you in Egypt. The famines you dread will follow you to Egypt, and you will die there.
- 1 Chronicles 21:16When David looked up, he saw the Messenger of the Lord standing between heaven and earth. The Messenger had a sword in his hand and stretched it over Jerusalem. David and the leaders were dressed in sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces touching the ground.
- Isaiah 66:16The Lord will judge with fire, and he will judge all people with his sword. Many people will be struck dead by the Lord.
- Jeremiah 12:12Looters swarm all over the bare hills in the desert. The Lord’s sword destroys them from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe.
- Jeremiah 47:6You cry out, “Sword of the Lord, how long will you keep on fighting? Go back into your scabbard. Stay there and rest!”
- Leviticus 26:10You will clear out old food supplies to make room for new ones.
- Deuteronomy 28:22The Lord will strike you with disease, fever, and inflammation; heat waves, drought, scorching winds, and ruined crops. They will pursue you until you die.
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 21:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Three days - the pestilence in the land - In 2 Samuel 24:13; (note), seven years of famine are mentioned.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And the angel of the Lord destroying - These words are not in Samuel, which puts the third alternative briefly. They prepare the way for the angelic appearance 1 Chronicles 21:16, on which the author is about to lay so much stress.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-30This account of the census is similar to 2 Samuel 24:1–25 but focuses on different aspects. The Chronicler’s version sets the stage for dedicating the altar and preparing to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Choose thee, &c.--To the three evils these correspond in beautiful agreement: three years, three months, three days [Bertheau]. (See on 2Sa 24:13).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Chronicles 21:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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