What Does 2 Samuel 24:13 Mean in the King James?

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

2 Samuel 24:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

David is asked to choose not whether calamity comes, but which shape and duration it takes.

THE MEANING

The verse places you before three forms of loss: seven years of famine in your land, three months fleeing while enemies pursue you, or three days of pestilence in the land. The duration and reach differ, but none of the offered paths is painless; the one who sent the message awaits an answer.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Having options does not mean having a harmless option; here each choice carries a different cost, duration, and reach.

THE ROOT

רֹדְפֶךָ

rodefekha

GROWS FROM

רדף

radaf

Pursue, chase after, follow.

This root describes directed pursuit, not hostility by itself: here the enemies pursue David, while elsewhere the same Hebrew verb is directed toward peace. The object of pursuit changes its force.

ALSO GROWS

radaf: To pursue, chase, or follow after.

רָדַף

This is the root behind the enemies’ pursuit in the verse.

verodfehu: And pursue it.

וְרָדְפֵהוּ

Psalm 34:14 uses this form for pursuing peace, showing that the same motion can bear down as a threat or reach toward what is good.

שֹׁלְחִי

sholchi

GROWS FROM

שלח

shalach

Send, send forth, release.

The verse closes by naming the one who sent Gad: the message travels from a sender to David, then the answer is to travel back. The same root also carries the sense of sending away or releasing, joining dispatch with letting go.

ALSO GROWS

shalach: To send, dispatch, or send forth.

שָׁלַח

Gad says he will return David’s answer to the one who sent him.

shilleach: To send away or release.

שִׁלֵּחַ

This related form shows how the root of sending can also name release.

THE PATTERN

Pursuit takes its direction from what is pursued: the same motion can close in as a threat or reach toward peace and justice.

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy 16:20 · KJVThe Hebrew verb translated “follow” comes from the same root as “pursue,” with justice as its object.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 · KJVThe same Hebrew pursuit verb is directed toward peace rather than toward a person under threat.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:14 · KJVThe Greek verb carries the sense of pursuing, showing the same directed movement toward peace in the New Testament.

THE THREAD

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 · KJV

The Hebrew root ⁨רדף⁩ (radaf), meaning “pursue,” appears here as enemies pursuing David and in Psalm 34:14 as pursuing peace. The verb’s motion stays the same; what changes is what that motion serves.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us