2 Samuel

2 Samuel 12:14–19

¹⁴Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD,^b the son born to you will surely die.”

¹⁵After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth^c on the ground. ¹⁷The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

¹⁸On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

¹⁹When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?”

“He is dead,” they replied.

Footnotes

b 12:14 DSS; MT you have brought utter contempt from the enemies of the LORD
c 12:16 DSS and LXX; MT does not include in sackcloth.

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 12:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Nevertheless	אֶ֗פֶס	’e·p̄es	Noun - masculine singular construct	H657 the two extremities
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
by	הַזֶּ֑ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
this deed	בַּדָּבָ֖ר	bad·dā·ḇār	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
you have shown utter contempt	נִאֵ֤ץ	ni·’êṣ	Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute	H5006 contemn, spurn
for	אֹיְבֵ֣י	’ō·yə·ḇê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H341 be hostile to
of the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
the son	הַבֵּ֛ן	hab·bên	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1121 son
born	הַיִּלּ֥וֹד	hay·yil·lō·wḏ	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H3209 born
to you	לְךָ֖	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
will surely die	מ֥וֹת	mō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H4191 die

2 Samuel 12:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After Nathan	נָתָ֖ן	nā·ṯān	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5416 Nathan
had gone	וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
home	בֵּית֑וֹ	bê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
struck	וַיִּגֹּ֣ף	way·yig·gōp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5062 strike, smite
the child	הַיֶּ֜לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
that	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
Uriah’s	אוּרִיָּ֛ה	’ū·rî·yāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H223 Urijah
wife	אֵֽשֶׁת־	’ê·šeṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
had borne	יָלְדָ֧ה	yā·lə·ḏāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3205 bear, bring forth, beget
to David	לְדָוִ֖ד	lə·ḏā·wiḏ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
and he became ill	וַיֵּאָנַֽשׁ׃	way·yê·’ā·naš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H605 be weak, sick

2 Samuel 12:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
David	דָּוִ֛ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
pleaded	וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ	way·ḇaq·qêš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1245 seek
with God	הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים	hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
for	בְּעַ֣ד	bə·‘aḏ	Preposition	H1157 separation
the boy	הַנָּ֑עַר	han·nā·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
He	דָּוִד֙	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
fasted	וַיָּ֤צָם	way·yā·ṣām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6684 abstain from food, fast
and went into his house	וּבָ֥א	ū·ḇā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and spent the night	וְלָ֖ן	wə·lān	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H3885 lodge, pass the night
lying	וְשָׁכַ֥ב	wə·šā·ḵaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
on the ground	אָֽרְצָה׃	’ā·rə·ṣāh	Noun - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H776 earth, land

2 Samuel 12:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The elders	זִקְנֵ֤י	ziq·nê	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H2205 old
of his household	בֵיתוֹ֙	ḇê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
stood	וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ	way·yā·qu·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
beside him	עָלָ֔יו	‘ā·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5921 height
to help him up	לַהֲקִימ֖וֹ	la·hă·qî·mōw	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the ground	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
but he was unwilling	וְלֹ֣א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
and would not	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
eat	בָרָ֥א	ḇā·rā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1254 shape, create
anything with them	אִתָּ֖ם	’it·tām	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H854 with

2 Samuel 12:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On the seventh	הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י	haš·šə·ḇî·‘î	Article; Number - ordinal masculine singular	H7637 seventh
day	בַּיּ֥וֹם	bay·yō·wm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
the child	הַיָּ֑לֶד	hay·yā·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
died	וַיָּ֣מָת	way·yā·māṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
But David’s	דָוִ֜ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
servants	עַבְדֵ֨י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
were afraid	וַיִּֽרְאוּ֩	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3372 fear
to tell	לְהַגִּ֥יד	lə·hag·gîḏ	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H5046 be conspicuous
him	ל֣וֹ׀	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
that	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the child	הַיֶּ֗לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
was dead	מֵ֣ת	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
for	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they said	אָֽמְרוּ֙	’ā·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H559 utter, say
Look	הִנֵּה֩	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
while the child	הַיֶּ֜לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
was alive	חַ֗י	ḥay	Adjective - masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
we spoke	דִּבַּ֤רְנוּ	dib·bar·nū	Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural	H1696 speak
to him	אֵלָיו֙	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
and he would not	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
listen to us	שָׁמַ֣ע	šā·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
So how	וְאֵ֨יךְ	wə·’êḵ	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H349 How?
can we tell	נֹאמַ֥ר	nō·mar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H559 utter, say
him	אֵלָ֛יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
the child	הַיֶּ֖לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
is dead	מֵ֥ת	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
He may even harm himself	וְעָשָׂ֥ה	wə·‘ā·śāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make

2 Samuel 12:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When David	דָּוִ֗ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
saw	וַיַּ֣רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
his servants	עֲבָדָיו֙	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
were whispering to one another	מִֽתְלַחֲשִׁ֔ים	miṯ·la·ḥă·šîm	Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural	H3907 whisper, charm
he	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
perceived	וַיָּ֥בֶן	way·yā·ḇen	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H995 discern
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the child	הַיָּ֑לֶד	hay·yā·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
was dead	מֵ֣ת	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
So he	דָּוִ֧ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
asked	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
his servants	עֲבָדָ֛יו	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Is the child	הַיֶּ֖לֶד	hay·ye·leḏ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3206 child, son, boy, youth
dead	הֲמֵ֥ת	hă·mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
He is dead	מֵֽת׃	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
they replied	וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say