And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

2 SAMUEL 24:25KJV
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2 Samuel 24:25 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 24:25 mean?

2 Samuel 24:25 describes how David built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt and peace offerings, after which God responded to David’s plea and stopped the plague that had been afflicting Israel. The verse shows that David’s act of worship and sacrifice led to God’s mercy and the end of the disaster.

In this verse, David is the king of Israel, and he is responding to a plague that came upon the nation as a consequence of his earlier actions. David builds the altar at the place God directed, offers sacrifices, and the LORD (the God of Israel) is moved by this act. The verse marks the turning point where God’s anger is turned away, and the suffering of the people comes to an end.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 24:25

  • "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): This word refers to a specific structure for offering sacrifices to God. The building of an altar here signals a formal act of worship and obedience.
  • "offered" (וַיַּעַל, va-ya’al): This verb means to bring up or offer, often used for sacrifices. It emphasizes David’s active role in presenting offerings to God.
  • "burnt offerings" (עֹלוֹת, olot) and "peace offerings" (שְׁלָמִים, shelamim): Burnt offerings were completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication, while peace offerings were shared and symbolized restored relationship. Both types highlight different aspects of David’s approach to God—seeking forgiveness and restored fellowship.
  • "intreated" (וַיֵּעָתֵר, vayye’ater): This word means to be moved by prayer or entreaty. It shows that God responded favorably to David’s actions and prayers, not automatically but as a result of sincere appeal.

Why 2 Samuel 24:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the end of the plague was directly connected to David’s obedience in building the altar and offering the right sacrifices, not just a random event or the passing of time.
  • The mention of both burnt and peace offerings shows that David sought both forgiveness and restored relationship with God, giving a fuller picture of biblical worship.
  • The verse connects to the wider story by showing the importance of following God’s instructions exactly, and it marks the site that would later become the location for Solomon’s temple, making it a significant moment in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“intreated” Hebrew H6279 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
  • Exodus 9:28 Intreat the LORD(for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

“plague” Hebrew H4046 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
  • Numbers 26:1 And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
  • 1 Chronicles 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

“stayed” Hebrew H6113 · used in 45 verses

  • Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
  • 1 Kings 14:10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.