2 Samuel 24:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 24:16 mean?

2 Samuel 24:16 describes how, as an angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD changed His mind about bringing further disaster and commanded the angel to stop. The angel then halted at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, marking the end of the destruction.

This verse takes place after King David’s sin of ordering a census, which led to a plague as punishment. The LORD (Yahweh) is shown as both just and merciful: He sends judgment but also limits it. The mention of the angel stopping at Araunah’s threshing floor sets up the location for a significant event that follows in the story.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 24:16

• "angel" (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh): This word means "messenger" and here refers to a supernatural being carrying out God's judgment. The angel is a visible agent of destruction, not just a figure of speech.
• "repented" (נָחַם, nacham): This word is often understood as "relented" or "was moved to pity." It does not mean God made a mistake, but rather that He chose to show mercy and stop the judgment.
• "evil" (רָעָה, ra’ah): In this context, this word means "disaster" or "calamity," not moral evil. It emphasizes that the LORD was bringing a severe consequence, but not acting out of malice.
• "stay" (רָפָה, raphah): This verb means "to let go" or "to relax." When God tells the angel to "stay" his hand, He is commanding the angel to cease the destruction immediately.

Why 2 Samuel 24:16 matters

• This verse clears up the idea that God’s judgments are unchangeable; it shows that God can choose to show mercy even in the midst of judgment.
• The detail about the threshing floor of Araunah is important because this location later becomes the site of the temple in Jerusalem, connecting this moment to a major turning point in Israel’s history.
• The verse highlights both God’s justice (in sending the plague) and His compassion (in stopping it), giving a fuller picture of His character in the narrative.