2 Samuel 12:14 kjv
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
2 Samuel 12:14 nkjv
However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
2 Samuel 12:14 niv
But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die."
2 Samuel 12:14 esv
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die."
2 Samuel 12:14 nlt
Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die."
2 Samuel 12 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 10:3 | "This is what the LORD spoke: 'Among those who are near to me...'" | God's holiness demands reverence from leaders. |
| Num 20:12 | "Because you did not trust in me, to uphold me as holy..." | Leaders' sins bring disrepute to God's name. |
| Deut 28:15-68 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Covenant consequences for disobedience. |
| Psa 51:4 | "Against you, you only, have I sinned..." | David's profound understanding of sin against God. |
| Psa 74:10 | "How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name?" | Plea for God to act when His name is blasphemed. |
| Isa 52:5 | "Therefore my people have gone into exile for lack of knowledge..." | Israel's suffering causing God's name to be reviled among nations. |
| Ezek 36:20-23 | "When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned my holy name..." | God's zeal for His name's reputation. |
| Rom 2:24 | "For, as it is written, 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'" | Echoes of Israel's public sin dishonoring God. |
| 1 Tim 3:7 | "Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders..." | Need for blameless conduct for church leaders. |
| Tit 2:5 | "...that the word of God may not be reviled." | Living righteously prevents God's word being spoken ill of. |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.'" | God's prerogative to judge and punish. |
| Ps 79:10 | "Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" | Public perception when God's people sin. |
| Mal 1:6 | "A son honors his father, and a servant his master..." | Dishonoring God by contemptible offerings. |
| Luke 17:1-2 | "It is impossible for stumbling blocks not to come, but woe to him..." | Warning about causing others to stumble or blaspheme. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper..." | Contrast to David's eventual confession. |
| Ps 32:3-5 | "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away..." | David's experience of the physical toll of unconfessed sin. |
| John 13:7 | "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." | Divine purposes beyond immediate comprehension. |
| Hos 13:9 | "He has chosen to destroy you, Israel; for you are against Me..." | Sin leading to destruction. |
| Lam 2:15 | "All who pass along the way clap their hands at you..." | Public scorn resulting from disobedience. |
| 2 Sam 12:18 | "On the seventh day the child died..." | Fulfillment of the prophecy. |
| Gen 2:17 | "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat..." | Principle of death as a consequence of sin. |
2 Samuel 12 verses
2 Samuel 12 14 Meaning
This verse declares a severe consequence for David's sin, emphasizing that although his life is spared, his actions have profoundly dishonored God among His adversaries. The direct, tragic outcome prophesied is the death of the child born from his illicit union with Bathsheba, demonstrating God's justice and His resolute protection of His holy name against reproach.
2 Samuel 12 14 Context
This verse appears directly after Nathan the prophet confronts King David regarding his adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of Uriah's death. Nathan used a parable to expose David's sin, prompting David to confess, "I have sinned against the LORD." While David receives assurance of forgiveness and preservation of his life (the sword will not depart from his house, but his own life is spared, 2 Sam 12:13), verse 14 clarifies that the sin's public nature demands a specific, severe consequence to uphold God's holiness and His reputation among the surrounding nations. The preceding verses reveal Nathan's detailed prophecy of internal strife, public shame, and the tragic loss of the child, setting the stage for the specific judgment stated in verse 14.
2 Samuel 12 14 Word analysis
- Because (יַעַן – ya'an): Introduces the direct cause for the punishment. It signifies "because of" or "for the reason that."
- by this deed (בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה – báddávár hazzéh): Specifically points to David's recent actions – the combined sin of adultery, deception, and murder. It highlights the definite, clear action.
- hast given great occasion (הֵנֵאֵץ הֵנֵאֶצְתָּ – hená'éṣ hené'aṣtā): This is a Hebrew intensive infinitive construction (piel infinitive absolute before the verb), making the verb "blaspheme/despise" extremely emphatic. It means "you have greatly blasphemed," "you have truly despised," or "you have scorned exceedingly." This indicates a deep, intentional dishonor.
- to the enemies of the LORD (לְאֹיְבֵי יְהוָה – lə'oy'véy Yahweh): Identifies the target audience affected by David's actions. It points to surrounding pagan nations and even factions within Israel who oppose God or David as His anointed king. They would interpret David's sin as weakness of his God.
- to blaspheme (לְנַאֵץ – ləna'ēṣ): To treat with contempt or scorn, to utter abusive words, to rail against God or His name. This is the same root as the emphatic word earlier, reiterating the act of profound disrespect.
- the LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. David's sin directly targeted God's own character and covenant fidelity.
- the child also (גַּם־הַבֵּן – gam-habbēn): "Gam" means "also" or "even," linking the child's fate directly to David's public offense. It highlights that the consequence is personal and immediate.
- that is born unto thee (אֲשֶׁר יֻלַּד־לְךָ – ’ăšer yullad-ləḵā): Refers to the infant recently conceived and born of David and Bathsheba. It emphasizes the child's identity and connection to David's sin.
- shall surely die (מוֹת יָמוּת – môt yāmût): Another emphatic Hebrew construction, infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb. It means "dying he shall die" or "he shall certainly die." There is no possibility of escape from this judgment.
2 Samuel 12 14 Bonus section
- Divine Reputation: The primary concern in this verse is the honor of YHWH. God is intensely concerned with how His name is perceived, especially by those who do not worship Him. David's actions undermined the testimony of God's character and power.
- Cost of Leadership: The passage highlights the higher standard to which leaders are held. A king's sin has broader societal and theological implications than a common person's, as his actions reflect on the God he represents. This echoes the stringent accountability for leaders throughout scripture.
- Grace and Justice Coexist: While seemingly harsh, this verse simultaneously portrays God's justice and His continued grace towards David. David was not stripped of his kingdom or executed for his capital offenses. This reveals God's faithfulness to His covenant with David despite David's failings, but it also underscores that forgiveness does not always negate the earthly consequences of sin.
- No Immunity: Even deeply loved figures like David are not immune to the severe consequences of their sin when it compromises God's holiness and public witness.
2 Samuel 12 14 Commentary
This verse serves as a crucial point in David's narrative, articulating the inescapable consequences of sin, even for a forgiven person. While God, in His mercy, forgave David's personal guilt and spared his life, the public ramifications of David's transgression were undeniable and damaging to God's name. David, as God's chosen king, was a representative of God on Earth. His scandalous actions gave powerful ammunition to God's "enemies," enabling them to scoff at God, claiming that even His chosen leader behaved like pagans or that God was either impotent to prevent such evil or uncaring about it. This blasphemy was an affront to God's holiness and honor. The death of the child, therefore, was not merely a punishment but a public demonstration of God's unyielding justice, His demand for holiness from His people, and His jealous protection of His own reputation in a world full of idolaters. It showed that divine judgment, even for "private" sins, can manifest publicly, affecting those around the sinner.