2 Samuel 12 13

2 Samuel 12:13 kjv

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

2 Samuel 12:13 nkjv

So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

2 Samuel 12:13 niv

Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

2 Samuel 12:13 esv

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

2 Samuel 12:13 nlt

Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 13 Meaning

In this verse, King David offers an immediate and direct confession of his sin against the LORD, acknowledging his guilt without excuse. Nathan, the prophet, responds by declaring that the LORD has, in turn, removed the immediate consequence of death for David's transgression, signifying divine forgiveness of the capital offense, yet it foreshadows that there will be consequences from the sin as discussed in earlier verses.

2 Samuel 12 13 Context

Chapter 12 follows King David's grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah (2 Sam 11). The narrative portrays God's displeasure, leading Him to send Nathan the prophet to confront David. Nathan skillfully delivers a parable about a rich man seizing a poor man's single lamb, which provokes David's righteous anger and judgment (2 Sam 12:1-6). Nathan then dramatically applies the parable directly to David, declaring "You are the man!" (2 Sam 12:7). The prophet outlines God's blessings upon David, followed by a severe indictment of his recent actions (2 Sam 12:7-9) and pronounces God's judgment: disaster from his own household and public humiliation (2 Sam 12:10-12). It is immediately following this damning divine pronouncement that David, broken and exposed, utters his confession in verse 13.

2 Samuel 12 13 Word analysis

• And David said: (wa-yomer David - וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד) - The immediate, direct, and non-evasive response of David. The use of "said" (וַיֹּאמֶר - wa-yomer) often introduces significant pronouncements or shifts in narrative, highlighting David's broken and receptive posture before the divine word delivered by Nathan.
• unto Nathan: (el Natan - אֶל נָתָן) - Signifies that David is directly addressing the prophet as God's messenger, acknowledging the divine source of the confrontation, not just Nathan's personal opinion.
• I have sinned: (ḥāṭā'ṯî - חָטָאתִי) - This is a pivotal confession. The verb חָטָא (chata) means "to miss the mark," "to fall short," "to err," but in the context of divine law, it means to trespass against God's will and covenant. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing effects. This is a personal, active admission of guilt, devoid of excuse or blame-shifting, signifying genuine repentance and self-condemnation. It contrasts starkly with the responses of Saul (1 Sam 15) or Adam and Eve (Gen 3), who attempted to minimize or justify their actions.
• against the LORD: (la-YHWH - לַֽיהוָה) - This specifies the true object and nature of David's sin. While his actions directly harmed Uriah and Bathsheba, David acknowledges that his ultimate offense was against God Himself, His holiness, and His covenant. Using "YHWH" (the tetragrammaton), the personal, covenantal name of God, underscores the deep betrayal of his relationship with the living God. This indicates a profound spiritual awareness.
• And Nathan said: (wa-yomer Natan - וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן) - Similar to David's "said," this indicates an immediate, divinely ordained response from the prophet.
• unto David: (el David - אֶל דָּוִד) - Direct address from Nathan back to David.
• The LORD also has put away: (gam-YHWH he'evir - גַּם־יְהוָה הֶעֱבִיר) - Gam (also/even) emphasizes the immediate and active nature of God's response. הֶעֱבִיר (he'evir) is the Hiphil (causative) perfect of עָבַר (avar), meaning "to cause to pass over," "to remove," "to take away." It signifies an act of divine power whereby the guilt that demanded the immediate consequence of capital punishment is supernaturally lifted or removed. It does not imply sin ceases to exist but that its condemning power is neutralised.
• thy sin: (ḥaṭṭā't-kha - חַטָּאתְךָ) - The same root word for "sin" (חַטָּאת - chaṭṭa't) is used, now referring to the actual sin as an entity that God has dealt with. It highlights that it is David's sin, for which he has now repented, that is removed.
• thou shalt not die: (lo tamut - לֹא תָמֻת) - This declares that David will not face immediate execution, which would have been the just punishment under Mosaic Law for adultery and murder. It signifies the removal of the capital penalty and thus implies God's mercy and forgiveness of the ultimate, damning consequence. It does not negate the other stated consequences, but specifically exempts him from physical death due to the sin at that moment.

2 Samuel 12 13 Bonus section

The nature of sin confessed by David as being "against the LORD" reveals a significant theological understanding prevalent in the Israelite covenantal context. Unlike some ancient Near Eastern cultures where offending the gods might primarily involve cultic impurity or a contractual breach, David recognized his actions as a personal affront and rebellion against the very character and holiness of God. This profound realization is key to understanding biblical repentance. The act of God "putting away" David's sin speaks to His sovereign power to remit the guilt and condemnation associated with transgressions. It signifies that divine pardon is not merely an overlook but an active removal of sin's damning effect, foundational to the concept of redemption and atonement that would later find its fullest expression in the New Testament.

2 Samuel 12 13 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:13 is a powerful demonstration of genuine repentance met by divine mercy. David's confession, "I have sinned against the LORD," is brief but profound. It indicates a heart broken over its offense against a holy God, not just its personal fallout or exposure. This raw admission, following Nathan's divine indictment, reflects true humility and understanding that sin's deepest offense is against God himself (as echoed in Ps 51:4).

In response to David's unreserved confession, God, through Nathan, immediately pronounces forgiveness of the ultimate penalty – "Thou shalt not die." This showcases God's covenant faithfulness and His willingness to forgive when met with sincere repentance. However, it is crucial to note that while the capital penalty for the person is removed, the previously pronounced consequences of David's sin upon his household and public standing remain. This highlights a critical biblical principle: divine forgiveness (remission of ultimate judgment) does not always negate the natural or disciplinary consequences of sin in this life. David was saved from death and his soul preserved, yet he would suffer through the death of his son and internal strife within his family as direct results of his actions (2 Sam 12:10-12, 14).

This verse profoundly teaches that God is gracious to forgive a repentant heart, yet He is also just and righteous, allowing the bitter fruit of sin to be reaped, especially when the sin is committed by a leader and brings dishonor to God's name.