2 Samuel

2 Samuel 12:16–20

16David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackclothc 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.

20Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

Footnotes

  • 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 12:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Davidדָּוִ֛דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
pleadedוַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁway·ḇaq·qêšConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1245 seek
with Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
forבְּעַ֣דbə·‘aḏPrepositionH1157 separation
the boyהַנָּ֑עַרhan·nā·‘arArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5288 a shaking, scattering
Heדָּוִד֙dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
fastedוַיָּ֤צָםway·yā·ṣāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6684 abstain from food, fast
and went into his houseוּבָ֥אū·ḇāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
and spent the nightוְלָ֖ןwə·lānConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH3885 lodge, pass the night
lyingוְשָׁכַ֥בwə·šā·ḵaḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH7901 lie down
on the groundאָֽרְצָה׃’ā·rə·ṣāhNoun - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH776 earth, land

2 Samuel 12:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The eldersזִקְנֵ֤יziq·nêAdjective - masculine plural constructH2205 old
of his householdבֵיתוֹ֙ḇê·ṯōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
stoodוַיָּקֻ֜מוּway·yā·qu·mūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6965 arise, stand up, stand
beside himעָלָ֔יו‘ā·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH5921 height
to help him upלַהֲקִימ֖וֹla·hă·qî·mōwPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the groundהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
but he was unwillingוְלֹ֣אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
and would notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
eatבָרָ֥אḇā·rāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1254 shape, create
anything with themאִתָּ֖ם’it·tāmPreposition; third person masculine pluralH854 with

2 Samuel 12:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
On the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֖יhaš·šə·ḇî·‘îArticle; Number - ordinal masculine singularH7637 seventh
dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbay·yō·wmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
the childהַיָּ֑לֶדhay·yā·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
diedוַיָּ֣מָתway·yā·māṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
But David’sדָוִ֜דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
servantsעַבְדֵ֨י‘aḇ·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
were afraidוַיִּֽרְאוּ֩way·yir·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3372 fear
to tellלְהַגִּ֥ידlə·hag·gîḏPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5046 be conspicuous
himל֣וֹ׀lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
thatכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the childהַיֶּ֗לֶדhay·ye·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
was deadמֵ֣תmêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
forכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they saidאָֽמְרוּ֙’ā·mə·rūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH559 utter, say
Lookהִנֵּה֩hin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
while the childהַיֶּ֜לֶדhay·ye·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
was aliveחַ֗יḥayAdjective - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
we spokeדִּבַּ֤רְנוּdib·bar·nūVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common pluralH1696 speak
to himאֵלָיו֙’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
and he would notוְלֹא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
listen to usשָׁמַ֣עšā·ma‘Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH8085 hear
So howוְאֵ֨יךְwə·’êḵConjunctive waw; InterjectionH349 How?
can we tellנֹאמַ֥רnō·marVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralH559 utter, say
himאֵלָ֛יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
the childהַיֶּ֖לֶדhay·ye·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
is deadמֵ֥תmêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
He may even harm himselfוְעָשָׂ֥הwə·‘ā·śāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make

2 Samuel 12:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When Davidדָּוִ֗דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
sawוַיַּ֣רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
thatכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
his servantsעֲבָדָיו֙‘ă·ḇā·ḏāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
were whispering to one anotherמִֽתְלַחֲשִׁ֔יםmiṯ·la·ḥă·šîmVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine pluralH3907 whisper, charm
heדָּוִ֖דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
perceivedוַיָּ֥בֶןway·yā·ḇenConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH995 discern
thatכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the childהַיָּ֑לֶדhay·yā·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
was deadמֵ֣תmêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
So heדָּוִ֧דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
his servantsעֲבָדָ֛יו‘ă·ḇā·ḏāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
Is the childהַיֶּ֖לֶדhay·ye·leḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
deadהֲמֵ֥תhă·mêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
He is deadמֵֽת׃mêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
they repliedוַיֹּ֥אמְרוּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say

2 Samuel 12:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Davidדָּוִ֨דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
got upוַיָּקָם֩way·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
from the groundמֵהָאָ֜רֶץmê·hā·’ā·reṣPreposition-m, Article; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
washedוַיִּרְחַ֣ץway·yir·ḥaṣConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7364 wash, wash off, away, bathe
and anointed himselfוַיָּ֗סֶךְway·yā·seḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5480 pour in anointing, anoint
changedוַיְחַלֵּף֙way·ḥal·lêp̄Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2498 pass on or away, pass through
his clothesשִׂמְלָתוֹśim·lå̄·ṯōNoun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singularH8071 wrapper, mantle
and went intoוַיָּבֹ֥אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
the houseבֵית־ḇêṯ-Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and worshipedוַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּway·yiš·tā·ḥūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7812 bow down
Then he wentוַיָּבֹא֙way·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
his own houseבֵּית֔וֹbê·ṯōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
and at his requestוַיִּשְׁאַ֕לway·yiš·’alConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7592 ask, inquire
they setוַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּway·yā·śî·mūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7760 put, place, set
foodלֶ֖חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singularH3899 bread, food
before himל֛וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
and he ateוַיֹּאכַֽל׃way·yō·ḵalConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH398 eat

Cross-references

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

2 Samuel 12:16 2 Samuel 13:31 · Isaiah 22:12 · Psalm 69:10 · Psalm 50:15 · Jonah 3:9 · 2 Samuel 12:22 · 1 Kings 21:27 · Esther 4:16 · Acts 9:9 · Job 20:12–14 · Isaiah 26:16

2 Samuel 12:17 2 Samuel 3:35 · 1 Samuel 28:23

2 Samuel 12:20 Job 1:20 · Ruth 3:3 · Lamentations 3:39–41 · 2 Samuel 7:18 · Matthew 6:17 · Job 2:10 · Ecclesiastes 9:8

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.