2 Samuel 12:2 kjv
The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
2 Samuel 12:2 nkjv
The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.
2 Samuel 12:2 niv
The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle,
2 Samuel 12:2 esv
The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
2 Samuel 12:2 nlt
The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.
2 Samuel 12 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 13:2 | Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. | Example of patriarch's wealth |
| Deut 17:17 | [King] shall not acquire many horses for himself, nor shall he acquire many wives... nor shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold. | Warning against king's excessive possessions |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. | God's sovereignty over wealth |
| Psa 37:16 | Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. | Righteousness over material abundance |
| Psa 49:6-7 | Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches, none of whom can redeem. | Futility of trusting in riches |
| Psa 52:7 | This is the man who would not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his riches. | Danger of trusting in wealth instead of God |
| Prov 10:15 | The rich man's wealth is his strong city... | Perception of security in wealth |
| Prov 13:7 | One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. | Appearance of wealth |
| Prov 18:23 | The poor man speaks entreaties, but the rich man answers roughly. | Social disparity and haughtiness |
| Prov 22:7 | The rich rules over the poor... | Power dynamics of wealth |
| Eccl 5:10 | He who loves money will not be satisfied with money... | Unsatisfying nature of material gain |
| Isa 3:14 | The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of His people... "It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses." | God's judgment on exploitation of the poor |
| Jer 22:16-17 | He pleaded the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know Me? But your eyes and your heart are set on dishonest gain... and doing violence. | True justice vs. dishonest gain |
| Amos 2:6 | For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. | Oppression of the poor condemned |
| Mic 2:2 | They covet fields and seize them, and houses and take them away; they oppress a man and his heritage. | Covetousness leading to injustice |
| Matt 13:22 | ...the deceitfulness of riches choke the word... | Danger of riches for spiritual growth |
| Mark 10:23 | How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! | Difficulty for the rich to enter kingdom |
| Luke 12:15 | "Beware, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." | Warning against covetousness and materialism |
| Luke 16:19 | "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day." | Parable of the rich man and Lazarus |
| Jas 2:6 | ...is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into courts? | Exploitation by the wealthy |
| Jas 5:1-4 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you... Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields... have cried out. | Divine judgment on exploiting the rich |
2 Samuel 12 verses
2 Samuel 12 2 Meaning
The verse "The rich man had a very great number of sheep and cattle" introduces the antagonist of Nathan's parable to King David. It establishes the immense wealth and abundance possessed by the rich man, highlighting a stark contrast with the poverty of his neighbor described in the following verse. This initial portrayal of overwhelming resources sets the stage for the rich man's egregious act of injustice, emphasizing that his action was born not out of necessity or lack, but out of greed and an abuse of power. The verse symbolizes David's own vast resources and numerous wives, contrasting them with Uriah's singular, precious possession—his wife Bathsheba.
2 Samuel 12 2 Context
This verse is the second line of Nathan's powerful parable (2 Sam 12:1-4) delivered to King David, aiming to expose and confront David's grave sin. Prior to this, David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his loyal soldiers, and then orchestrated Uriah's death on the battlefield to conceal his sin (2 Sam 11).
The immediate context is divine confrontation through a prophetic narrative. God, deeply displeased with David's actions, sends Nathan to rebuke him indirectly but unequivocally. The parable functions as a mirror, allowing David to see his sin reflected in a fictional scenario before realizing he is the "rich man." The rich man's "very great number of sheep and cattle" immediately highlights a significant imbalance in wealth and power, contrasting with the poverty of his neighbor in 2 Samuel 12:3 who possessed only one small lamb. This disparity sets up the injustice that forms the crux of the parable and David's sin. Culturally, livestock like sheep and cattle represented a primary measure of wealth, sustenance, and status in ancient Israelite society, making the parable highly relatable and impactful to David and its original audience.
2 Samuel 12 2 Word analysis
The rich man: (Hebrew: עָשִׁיר, ashir)
- This term refers to a person of wealth, someone with abundant possessions and resources. In the context of the parable, the ashir serves as an archetype of one holding significant power and material advantage.
- Significance: Immediately establishes a disparity in resources. This "rich man" symbolizes King David, who possessed immense wealth, power, and numerous wives and concubines (as highlighted by Nathan in 2 Sam 12:8), far beyond the simple possessions of an ordinary man like Uriah.
had: (Hebrew: וַיְהִי, vayhi - literally "and there was/existed for him")
- A simple verb indicating possession or existence. It points to a present reality for the rich man.
- Significance: Directly attributes the great abundance to the rich man, solidifying his economic position and contrasting it with what is to follow regarding the poor man.
a very great number: (Hebrew: הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, harbeh me'od)
- Harbeh means "much" or "many," and me'od intensifies it to "very," "exceedingly," or "greatly." The combination emphasizes overwhelming abundance.
- Significance: This emphatic phrase stresses the sheer scale of the rich man's wealth, making his subsequent act of covetousness and theft all the more indefensible. It underscores that his action was not motivated by need, but by a wanton desire despite immense possessions.
of sheep and cattle: (Hebrew: צֹאן וּבָקָר, tzo'n uvaqar)
- Tzo'n refers to small livestock like sheep and goats; uvaqar refers to large cattle. Together, they represent a complete inventory of pastoral wealth.
- Significance: In ancient Israel, livestock was a primary measure of wealth, providing food, clothing, and capital. The inclusion of both types indicates vast and diverse holdings. Crucially, these are the types of possessions from which the rich man could have easily supplied his needs, yet he desired the one tiny lamb of the poor man. This sets the concrete scene for the coveting and ultimate injustice.
"The rich man had a very great number of sheep and cattle." (words-group analysis)
- This opening statement vividly portrays an overwhelming abundance and disparity. It contrasts sharply with the "poor man" described in the very next verse who has only one small lamb. This initial contrast establishes the foundational imbalance central to the parable's moral message. The deliberate use of hyperbole ("very great number") prepares the listener (David) for the severity of the rich man's sin, making his actions inexcusable given his overflowing resources.
2 Samuel 12 2 Bonus section
- Rhetorical Device: Nathan's use of a parable allows him to approach David's sin indirectly, giving the king an opportunity to react righteously to an injustice before realizing he is implicated. This verse is the first stroke of setting up that rhetorical trap, establishing the clear and unassailable guilt of the antagonist through the sheer disparity of possessions.
- Contrast Principle: The dramatic contrast between the rich man's abundance in this verse and the poor man's singular, beloved lamb in the subsequent verse (2 Sam 12:3) is crucial for the parable's impact. It magnifies the rich man's cruelty and the depth of his transgression, making his act truly heinous.
- Precursor to Accountability: By painting such a vivid picture of the rich man's plenty, the parable pre-empts any possible excuse or mitigation for his actions, setting David up for a swift and righteous judgment that would then rebound on him.
2 Samuel 12 2 Commentary
2 Samuel 12:2 is a deceptively simple yet profoundly significant verse within Nathan's parable. It masterfully sets the scene by painting a picture of overwhelming material abundance possessed by the "rich man." The phrase "a very great number of sheep and cattle" employs hyperbolic language to impress upon the listener the magnitude of his wealth. This immediate depiction of vast resources serves several critical purposes. Theologically, it establishes that the rich man's subsequent sin of taking the poor man's single lamb was not born of necessity, but of a deep-seated greed, a sense of entitlement, and a blatant disregard for the rights of the vulnerable. This action underscores the sin of covetousness, violating the Tenth Commandment. For David, hearing of such wealth should have highlighted the profound contrast with Uriah, a loyal soldier who likely had far less, especially in comparison to the king. The verse therefore is not merely descriptive; it is foundational to the moral outrage Nathan intends to ignite in David, so that David would condemn the "rich man" without realizing he was condemning himself.