2 Samuel 11 5

2 Samuel 11:5 kjv

And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

2 Samuel 11:5 nkjv

And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."

2 Samuel 11:5 niv

The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant."

2 Samuel 11:5 esv

And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant."

2 Samuel 11:5 nlt

Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, "I'm pregnant."

2 Samuel 11 verses

2 Samuel 11 5 Meaning

2 Samuel 11:5 states that Bathsheba conceived a child from her illicit union with King David and subsequently informed him of her pregnancy. This message presented an immediate and grave problem for David, as it threatened to expose his adultery with Uriah's wife and lead to public scandal.

2 Samuel 11 5 Context

2 Samuel chapter 11 opens with David remaining in Jerusalem during a time when kings typically led their armies to war (2 Sam 11:1). From his rooftop, he saw Bathsheba, a beautiful woman, bathing (2 Sam 11:2). He inquired about her and learned she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his loyal elite soldiers (2 Sam 11:3). Despite knowing she was married, David sent for her and lay with her (2 Sam 11:4). Verse 5, "The woman conceived and sent word to David and said, 'I am pregnant,'" is the direct consequence of this illicit act and immediately shifts David's situation from a secret sin to a looming public crisis. This verse marks the beginning of David's attempt to cover up his sin, leading to further transgressions, including the murder of Uriah, and a cascade of dire consequences for David and his household, as prophesied by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. Historically, kings in the ancient Near East had significant power, but even they were subject to the divine law, which in Israel, condemned adultery and the abuse of power.

2 Samuel 11 5 Word analysis

• The woman (הָאִשָּׁה, ha'ishshah): Refers specifically to Bathsheba, identifying her as the direct actor of this communication. It underscores her individual experience of the physical outcome and her direct role in informing David, placing the responsibility for the crisis squarely at his feet. She is not anonymous but linked by the reader to the previous narrative.

• conceived (וַתַּהַר, vat·ta·har): This is a powerful verb in this context, signifying the natural, undeniable outcome of the illicit sexual act. It marks the shift from the abstract sin of adultery to its concrete, visible manifestation. The pregnancy is the tangible proof that threatens David's reputation and exposes his wrongdoing, forcing his hand.

• and sent word to David (וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתַּגֵּד לְדָוִד, vat·tish·lakh vat·tag·gêd le·dā·wiḏ):

  • sent word (וַתִּשְׁלַח, vat·tish·lakh): Denotes intentional communication. Bathsheba initiated this contact, highlighting her precarious and vulnerable position, compelled to inform the king of the undeniable evidence of their sin.
  • to David (לְדָוִד, le·dā·wiḏ): The direct recipient of the alarming news. The king, who thought he had committed a discreet sin, now faces a personal communication that brings a crisis directly to his throne.

• and said (וַתֹּאמֶר, vat·tō·mer): This simply introduces her direct message, emphasizing the verbal declaration of the crucial information.

• I am pregnant (הָרָה אָנֹכִי, ha·rāh ā·nō·ḵî):

  • pregnant (הָרָה, ha·rāh): A blunt, factual, and inescapable declaration of her state. It leaves no room for denial.
  • I (אָנֹכִי, ā·nō·ḵî): The emphatic first-person pronoun reinforces the personal reality of her situation, placing herself directly in this critical state before the king.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The woman conceived": This phrase immediately presents the physical and biological consequence of David's lustful action, creating the primary challenge he faces. It demonstrates that actions have consequences that are often beyond human control, bringing hidden deeds into the light.
  • "and sent word to David and said, 'I am pregnant'": This second part details Bathsheba's necessary communication of the critical development. It forces David from a position of comfortable secrecy into one of urgent problem-solving. This act of sending word is pivotal, directly instigating David's panicked efforts to cover up his sin, which tragically escalated to murder. It underscores the profound and disruptive impact of a simple message relaying an unescapable biological truth.

2 Samuel 11 5 Bonus section

The brevity of 2 Samuel 11:5 stands in stark contrast to its immense narrative and theological weight. While merely stating a biological fact, it sets in motion a chain of events that forever alter David's legacy and introduce immense pain and judgment into his life and kingdom (as detailed in 2 Sam 12-21). This verse is a testament to the Bible's concise yet impactful narrative style, delivering crucial information with profound implications in a few powerful words. The immediate pregnancy is less common for an initial sexual encounter in biblical narratives (e.g., in Ruth and Abraham/Sarah stories, conception is often later), which suggests a swift divine intention in bringing the truth to the forefront. This event is pivotal even in the lineage of Christ, as Bathsheba ("the wife of Uriah") is specifically mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:6), highlighting God's ability to work His purposes even through human sin and brokenness.

2 Samuel 11 5 Commentary

2 Samuel 11:5, though brief, is a narrative lynchpin. It details the inevitable consequence of David's illicit actions with Bathsheba, transforming a secret act of adultery into an unavoidable public crisis. This pregnancy served as incontrovertible proof of sin, immediately confronting David with a dire choice: confess his sin and face public shame, or attempt a cover-up. David's subsequent actions, motivated by fear and pride, led him down a path of increasing wickedness, culminating in the indirect murder of Uriah. The verse underscores that sin, no matter how clandestine, often generates its own complications that bring it to light. It is a profound example of how one sin, when not repented of, inevitably leads to further, graver sins as one attempts to manage its consequences. This verse acts as the trigger point for David's downfall and the subsequent suffering within his household, teaching a sobering lesson about the compounding nature and destructive ripple effect of unaddressed sin.