2 Samuel 24:12 net — “Go, tell David,‘This is what the LORD has said: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will…

NET Bible

"“Go, tell David,‘This is what the LORD has said: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.’”"

— 2 Samuel 24:12, NET Bible

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2 Samuel 24:12 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 24 — Context

9

Joab reported the number of warriors to the king. In Israel there were 800,000 sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were 500,000 soldiers.

10

David felt guilty after he had numbered the army. David said to the LORD,“I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O LORD, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

11

When David got up the next morning, the LORD’s message had already come to the prophet Gad, David’s seer:

12

“Go, tell David,‘This is what the LORD has said: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.’”

13

Gad went to David and told him,“Shall seven years of famine come upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what I should tell the one who sent me.”

14

David said to Gad,“I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the LORD, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!”

15

So the LORD sent a plague through Israel from the morning until the completion of the appointed time. Seventy thousand men died from Dan to Beer Sheba.

2 Samuel 24:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 24:12 say?
2 Samuel 24:12 in the NET Bible reads: ““Go, tell David,‘This is what the LORD has said: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.’””
Where is 2 Samuel 24:12 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 24:12 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 24, verse 12.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 24:12.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 24:12 in?
2 Samuel 24:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 24:12?
2 Samuel 24:12 reads (NET): ““Go, tell David,‘This is what the LORD has said: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.’”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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