1 Chronicles 21:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:14 mean?

1 Chronicles 21:14 describes how God sent a deadly plague on Israel, resulting in the death of seventy thousand men. This verse states the consequence of an earlier event where King David’s actions led to a severe judgment on the nation.

In the context of 1 Chronicles 21, King David had ordered a census of Israel, which was seen as an act of pride and lack of trust in God. As a result, God gave David a choice of punishments, and David chose to fall into God’s hands rather than human enemies. The verse records the tragic outcome of that choice, emphasizing the seriousness of David’s decision and its impact on the people.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 21:14

• The word for "LORD" is יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated as "Yahweh"), which is the personal name of Israel’s God, highlighting that this act comes directly from God and not from any natural cause.
• "Pestilence" is דֶּבֶר (dever), meaning a devastating plague or disease. This word often refers to a sudden, widespread calamity sent as judgment, not just a common illness.
• "Fell" is נָפַל (naphal), which in this context means to die or be struck down, stressing the suddenness and severity of the loss.
• The numbers "seventy" (שִׁבְעִים, shiv'im) and "thousand" (אֶלֶף, eleph) are specific and large, underlining the scale of the disaster and its seriousness for the nation.

Why 1 Chronicles 21:14 matters

• This verse clarifies that the disaster was not random but was a direct response from God to David’s actions, showing the connection between leadership decisions and national consequences.
• The scale of the loss—seventy thousand men—emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the far-reaching effects of disobedience or pride, even from a king.
• In the wider passage, this verse sets up the need for David’s repentance and the eventual stopping of the plague, which leads to the site where the temple would later be built, connecting judgment with hope and restoration.