2 Samuel 12 3

2 Samuel 12:3 kjv

But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

2 Samuel 12:3 nkjv

But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

2 Samuel 12:3 niv

but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

2 Samuel 12:3 esv

but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

2 Samuel 12:3 nlt

The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 3 Meaning

2 Samuel 12:3 is a key part of Nathan the prophet's parable to King David, crafted to expose David's sin regarding Bathsheba and Uriah. This verse meticulously describes the intimate, familial bond between a poor man and his single, beloved ewe lamb. The lamb, which he personally acquired and nurtured, lived within his household, shared his food and drink, and slept close to him, cherished as if it were his own daughter. This vivid depiction emphasizes the lamb's irreplaceable value to the man, highlighting the depth of his loss when the rich man unjustly takes it. The verse sets a profound stage, illustrating genuine attachment and vulnerability, thereby magnifying the moral outrage and injustice inherent in the rich man's (representing David's) subsequent actions.

2 Samuel 12 3 Context

2 Samuel 12:3 is presented within the powerful prophetic confrontation between Nathan and King David. Chapter 11 recounts David's grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba, coveting, and ultimately arranging the death of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's loyal husband. Immediately following these events, the Lord sends Nathan to David (2 Sam 12:1). To awaken David's conscience without directly accusing him initially, Nathan employs a parabolic narrative about two men: a rich man with many flocks and a poor man with only one cherished lamb. Verse 3 meticulously details the exceptional care and profound love the poor man had for this solitary animal. This detailed description is crucial because it serves to heighten David's righteous indignation in response to the parable's injustice, thereby trapping him in his own judgment. The historical and cultural context underscores the importance of livestock, particularly sheep, as vital assets and symbols of wealth and livelihood in ancient Israel. A lamb, even a "ewe lamb," being treated with such affection was an extreme yet emotionally resonant portrayal designed to highlight the violation of an extremely precious and personal possession, paralleling David's taking of Uriah's treasured wife, Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 12 3 Word analysis

• "But the poor man" (דַּל - dal): Refers to someone in a state of weakness, low social standing, and extreme need or poverty. Here, it signifies vulnerability and dependence, contrasting sharply with the powerful and abundant. In the parable, it clearly represents Uriah, highlighting his limited means against David's vast power and resources.
• "had nothing, save one": This phrase immediately establishes scarcity and singular possession. It underscores that this lamb was not just one of many, but his sole significant possession, emphasizing its irreplaceability and immense value to him.
• "little ewe lamb" (כִּבְשָׂה - kivśāh): Specifically, a female lamb, often connoting innocence or purity. "Little" enhances the sense of its preciousness and vulnerability. The choice of "ewe lamb" further evokes tender care, as ewes are vital for milk and reproduction, making them especially valuable in a pastoral society. It subtly mirrors Bathsheba as Uriah's single, precious wife.
• "which he had bought and nourished up": This highlights the man's direct investment, labor, and personal commitment. He actively acquired it and dedicated himself to its care, establishing a bond based on sacrifice and nurture, not mere possession.
• "and it grew up together with him, and with his children": This paints a picture of complete integration into the family unit. The lamb was not an outsider but part of the household, experiencing daily life alongside the family members. This shows deep companionship and familiarity.
• "it did eat of his own meat": "Meat" (literally, 'food' or 'portion') signifies that the man shared his personal sustenance with the lamb, demonstrating unparalleled generosity and intimate bonding. This was not typical animal feeding; it was an act of sharing from one's own plate.
• "and drank of his own cup": Further emphasizes the extraordinary level of intimacy and shared life. To drink from the same cup indicated close kinship and complete trust, normally reserved for family members, even elevating the animal's status.
• "and lay in his bosom" (חֵיק - cheyq): This signifies extreme tenderness, comfort, and protection. "Bosom" implies a place of warmth, intimacy, and cherished closeness, as a parent would hold a child or a spouse a beloved partner. It denotes complete trust and affection.
• "and was unto him as a daughter" (כְּבַת - kəḇaṯ): This is the ultimate declaration of the lamb's cherished status. Comparing it to a daughter conveys unconditional love, deep personal attachment, and irreplaceable value, transcending mere pet ownership to familial kinship. This hyperbole accentuates the severity of its loss.

2 Samuel 12 3 Bonus section

The intense intimacy depicted between the poor man and his ewe lamb is deliberately hyperbolic to drive home the magnitude of the rich man's transgression. While literal sheep might not drink from a cup or sleep in a man's bosom in the practical sense, the imagery transcends reality to convey a profound spiritual and emotional truth: the lamb was loved and cherished in a way typically reserved for a child. This amplifies the sin of coveting and theft. The parable serves not only as a divine accusation but also as a powerful tool for self-discovery and conviction, forcing David to see his own actions through the lens of pure justice and mercy, rather than his personal privilege and power. The immediate and visceral response David has (2 Sam 12:5) shows how effectively this deep empathy was invoked by Nathan. The focus on the "one" lamb beautifully symbolizes the uniqueness and sacredness of each life and possession cherished by the vulnerable.

2 Samuel 12 3 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:3, within Nathan's profound parable, is a masterful rhetorical stroke, carefully designed to elicit maximum empathy and indignation from King David. The detailed, affectionate description of the poor man's relationship with his single ewe lamb builds an emotional foundation, establishing the lamb not as property, but as a cherished, irreplaceable family member. Every phrase—from its purchase and nurturing to its eating from the man's hand and sleeping in his bosom, ultimately being "as a daughter"—serves to elevate the lamb's value beyond measure. This paints a stark contrast with the rich man's callous disregard for others' deeply treasured possessions. Nathan's narrative meticulously highlights the injustice, self-indulgence, and utter lack of compassion displayed by the powerful oppressor. The prophet employs common experiences of a pastoral society to make the story universally relatable and emotionally potent. The rich imagery allows David, initially, to objectively condemn the sin presented in the parable, not realizing he is condemning his own actions. This precise, vivid depiction is crucial for exposing David's hidden sin by making him pronounce judgment upon himself, ultimately revealing the heart of a just God who cares for the vulnerable and calls even kings to account. The parabolic teaching here perfectly illustrates how deeply God feels the injustice committed against the "one precious thing" of the weak and helpless.