2 Samuel

2 Samuel 12:1–7

1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his armsa and was like a daughter to him.

4Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

7Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

Footnotes

  • a 12:3 Hebrew in his bosom; also in verse 8

Read all of 2 Samuel 12

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 12:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֧חway·yiš·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7971 send
Nathanנָתָ֖ןnā·ṯānNoun - proper - masculine singularH5416 Nathan
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֑דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
and when he arrivedוַיָּבֹ֣אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
he saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
There wereהָיוּ֙hā·yūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
twoשְׁנֵ֣יšə·nêNumber - masculine dual constructH8147 two
menאֲנָשִׁ֗ים’ă·nā·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind
in a certainאֶחָ֔ת’e·ḥāṯNumber - feminine singularH259 one
cityבְּעִ֣ירbə·‘îrPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
oneאֶחָ֥ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
richעָשִׁ֖יר‘ā·šîrAdjective - masculine singularH6223 rich
and the otherוְאֶחָ֥דwə·’e·ḥāḏConjunctive waw; Number - masculine singularH259 one
poorרָֽאשׁ׃rāšVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7326 be in want, poor

2 Samuel 12:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The richלְעָשִׁ֗ירlə·‘ā·šîrPreposition-l; Adjective - masculine singularH6223 rich
man hadהָיָ֛הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a great number ofהַרְבֵּ֥הhar·bêhVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
sheepצֹ֥אןṣōnNoun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
and cattleוּבָקָ֖רū·ḇā·qārConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH1241 cattle, herd, ox

2 Samuel 12:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
but the poorוְלָרָ֣שׁwə·lā·rāšConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7326 be in want, poor
man had nothingאֵֽין־’ên-AdverbH369 nothing, nought
exceptכִּי֩kîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
oneאַחַ֤ת’a·ḥaṯNumber - feminine singular constructH259 one
smallקְטַנָּה֙qə·ṭan·nāhAdjective - feminine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
ewe lambכִּבְשָׂ֨הkiḇ·śāhNoun - feminine singularH3535 ewe-lamb
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
he had boughtקָנָ֔הqā·nāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7069 get, acquire
He raised itוַיְחַיֶּ֕הָway·ḥay·ye·hāConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singularH2421 live
and it grew upוַתִּגְדַּ֥לwat·tiḡ·dalConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH1431 grow up, become great
with himעִמּ֛וֹ‘im·mōwPreposition; third person masculine singularH5973 with
and his childrenבָּנָ֖יוbā·nāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1121 son
It sharedיַחְדָּ֑וyaḥ·dāwAdverbH3162 unitedness
his foodמִפִּתּ֨וֹmip·pit·tōwPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH6595 fragment, bit, morsel
and drankתִשְׁתֶּה֙ṯiš·tehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH8354 drink
from his cupוּמִכֹּס֤וֹū·mik·kō·sōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3563 cup
it sleptתִשְׁכָּ֔בṯiš·kāḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH7901 lie down
in his armsוּבְחֵיק֣וֹū·ḇə·ḥê·qōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2436 bosom
and wasוַתְּהִי־wat·tə·hî-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
like a daughterכְּבַֽת׃kə·ḇaṯPreposition-k; Noun - feminine singularH1323 daughter
to himל֖וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

2 Samuel 12:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now a travelerהֵלֶךְ֮hê·leḵNoun - masculine singularH1982 traveller
cameוַיָּ֣בֹאway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to the richהֶֽעָשִׁיר֒he·‘ā·šîrArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH6223 rich
manלְאִ֣ישׁlə·’îšPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH376 man
who refrained from takingלָקַ֤חַתlā·qa·ḥaṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH3947 take
one of his own sheepמִצֹּאנוֹ֙miṣ·ṣō·nōwPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
or cattleוּמִבְּקָר֔וֹū·mib·bə·qā·rōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1241 cattle, herd, ox
to prepareלַעֲשׂ֕וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
for the travelerלָאֹרֵ֖חַlā·’ō·rê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH732 wander, journey, go
who had comeהַבָּא־hab·bā-Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to himל֑וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
Insteadוַיִּקַּ֗חway·yiq·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3947 take
he tookוַיִּקַּ֗חway·yiq·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3947 take
the poorהָרָ֔אשׁhā·rāšArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7326 be in want, poor
man’sהָאִ֣ישׁhā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
lambכִּבְשַׂת֙kiḇ·śaṯNoun - feminine singular constructH3535 ewe-lamb
and prepared itוַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֔הָway·ya·‘ă·śe·hāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singularH6213 do, make
for his guestלָאִ֖ישׁlā·’îšPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH376 man

2 Samuel 12:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Davidדָּוִ֛דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
burnedוַיִּֽחַר־way·yi·ḥar-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled
with angerאַ֥ף’ap̄Noun - masculine singular constructH639 nostril, nose, face, anger
against the manבָּאִ֖ישׁbā·’îšPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Nathanנָתָ֔ןnā·ṯānNoun - proper - masculine singularH5416 Nathan
As surely as the LORDיְהוָ֕הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
livesחַי־ḥay-Noun - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
the manהָאִ֖ישׁhā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
who didהָעֹשֶׂ֥הhā·‘ō·śehArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6213 do, make
thisזֹֽאת׃zōṯPronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
deserves to dieמָ֔וֶתmā·weṯNoun - masculine singularH4194 death

2 Samuel 12:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Becauseעֵ֗קֶב‘ê·qeḇConjunctionH6118 consequence
he has doneעָשָׂה֙‘ā·śāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
thisהַזֶּ֔הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
thingהַדָּבָ֣רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
and has shown noלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
pityחָמָֽל׃ḥā·mālVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2550 spare
he must payיְשַׁלֵּ֣םyə·šal·lêmVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7999 be complete, sound
for the lambהַכִּבְשָׂ֖הhak·kiḇ·śāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH3535 ewe-lamb
four times overאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם’ar·ba‘·tā·yimNumber - fdH706 fourfold

2 Samuel 12:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Nathanנָתָ֛ןnā·ṯānNoun - proper - masculine singularH5416 Nathan
saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֖דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
Youאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
are that manהָאִ֑ישׁhā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
This is whatכֹּה־kōh-AdverbH3541 thus, here
the LORDיְהוָ֜הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hêNoun - masculine plural constructH430 God
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
saysאָמַ֨ר’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Iאָנֹכִ֞י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
anointedמְשַׁחְתִּ֤יךָֽmə·šaḥ·tî·ḵāVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singularH4886 smear, anoint
you kingלְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙lə·me·leḵPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
overעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
and Iוְאָנֹכִ֥יwə·’ā·nō·ḵîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH595 I
delivered youהִצַּלְתִּ֖יךָhiṣ·ṣal·tî·ḵāVerb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singularH5337 strip, plunder
from the handמִיַּ֥דmî·yaḏPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Samuel 12:1 1 Kings 20:35–41 · Psalm 51:1–19

2 Samuel 12:3 Micah 7:5 · 2 Samuel 11:3

2 Samuel 12:4 James 1:14

2 Samuel 12:5 1 Samuel 26:16 · Genesis 38:24 · Romans 2:1 · 1 Samuel 25:21–22 · Luke 6:41–42 · Luke 9:55 · 1 Samuel 20:31 · 1 Samuel 14:39

2 Samuel 12:6 Exodus 22:1 · Proverbs 6:31 · Luke 19:8 · James 2:13

2 Samuel 12:7 Matthew 14:14 · 1 Samuel 16:13 · 2 Samuel 22:1 · 1 Samuel 13:13 · 2 Samuel 22:49 · 1 Samuel 23:7 · 1 Samuel 15:17 · 1 Samuel 18:21 · 1 Samuel 19:10–15 · 2 Samuel 7:8 · 1 Kings 20:42 · 1 Kings 18:18

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.