2 Samuel 12 7

2 Samuel 12:7 kjv

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2 Samuel 12:7 nkjv

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

2 Samuel 12:7 niv

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

2 Samuel 12:7 esv

Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

2 Samuel 12:7 nlt

Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 7 Meaning

This verse serves as the direct, devastating accusation from the prophet Nathan to King David, revealing that David is the wicked man condemned in Nathan's preceding parable. It is a moment of profound confrontation, where God, through Nathan, identifies David's heinous sin against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 11) and reminds David of the immense divine favor, election, and protection he had previously received. This declaration underscores God's sovereignty over rulers, His justice, and the principle that even the highest authority is accountable to Him.

2 Samuel 12 7 Context

This pivotal verse comes immediately after Nathan's brilliant parable of the rich man and the poor man's single ewe lamb (2 Sam 12:1-6). David, upon hearing the story, erupts in righteous indignation, condemning the rich man to death and demanding restitution, unknowingly pronouncing judgment upon himself. The chapter begins with God sending Nathan to David, indicating divine initiation. Chapter 11 details David's escalating sins: adultery with Bathsheba, deceit to cover it up, and finally, the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's loyal husband, to eliminate the evidence. David's profound fall from moral and spiritual integrity, despite being a man "after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22), sets the stage for God's direct confrontation through His prophet. This verse specifically marks the abrupt transition from parabolic indictment to direct accusation, initiating the consequence phase of David's sin. Historically, it reminds the original audience and us that no king, however powerful, is above divine law and accountability to God.

2 Samuel 12 7 Word analysis

• Then Nathan said to David,

  • Signifies a direct, personal, and formal address following a strategic build-up. It indicates the culmination of the parabolic instruction and the onset of confrontation.

• "You are the man!" (אַתָּה הוּא הָאִישׁ - 'attâ hû' hâ'îsh)

  • אַתָּה ('attâ - "You"): A personal, emphatic second-person singular pronoun. Directly targets David, leaving no room for misunderstanding or denial.
  • הוּא (hû' - "he/is"): Functions as a copula or intensifier here, equivalent to "it is you," or "you are indeed."
  • הָאִישׁ (hâ'îsh - "the man"): Refers back to the "rich man" in Nathan's parable (2 Sam 12:1), clearly identifying David as the one guilty of such grievous injustice and oppression. This phrase is a shocking, revelatory punch, linking David directly to the condemned character of the story. Its power lies in David's prior self-righteous judgment.

• "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:" (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - koh ’āmar YHWH ’ĕlōhê yiśrā’ēl)

  • כֹּה אָמַר (koh ’āmar - "Thus says"): This is the classic, formulaic declaration of divine speech, found hundreds of times in the Old Testament. It authenticates the message as not Nathan's personal opinion, but the direct, authoritative word of God Himself. It conveys the absolute certainty and binding nature of the pronouncement.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH - "the LORD"): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and faithfulness to His people and David.
  • אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (’ĕlōhê yiśrā’ēl - "the God of Israel"): Emphasizes God's unique covenant relationship with Israel, His chosen people, and consequently with Israel's king. It grounds David's kingship in God's election and purpose, thereby highlighting the gravity of his transgression against the divine will and against his own people whom he was meant to shepherd righteously.

• "I anointed you king over Israel," (מָשַׁחְתִּיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל - māšaḥtîkhā l'melekh ‘al-yiśrā’ēl)

  • מָשַׁחְתִּיךָ (māšaḥtîkhā - "I anointed you"): This verb mashach refers to the ritualistic pouring of oil, symbolizing divine consecration, empowerment, and appointment. It is a direct reminder of God's sovereign choice of David over Saul (1 Sam 16:1-13). It highlights the enormity of David's sin – acting unjustly after receiving such profound divine grace and elevation.
  • לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (l'melekh ‘al-yiśrā’ēl - "king over Israel"): God is directly responsible for David's high position and authority. This emphasizes David's great privilege and corresponding great responsibility, making his abuse of power even more egregious.

• "and I delivered you from the hand of Saul." (וָאַצִּלְךָ מִיַּד שָׁאוּל - vā'atzilakhā miyad shā'ûl)

  • וָאַצִּלְךָ (vā'atzilakhā - "and I delivered you"): From the verb natsal, meaning "to rescue," "deliver," "snatch away." This points to God's continuous providential care and protection of David throughout the perilous period of Saul's jealousy and attempts to kill him (1 Sam 19-31). This further amplifies David's ingratitude; he was saved by God from injustice only to perpetrate it himself.
  • מִיַּד שָׁאוּל (miyad shā'ûl - "from the hand of Saul"): "Hand" (יַד - yad) signifies power, control, or destructive intent. Saul relentlessly pursued David, but God consistently rescued him from Saul's murderous grasp.

2 Samuel 12 7 Bonus section

The immediate and stark declaration "You are the man!" bypassed all potential royal defenses, emotional responses, or intellectual debates. Nathan used David's own passionate condemnation from the parable against him, trapping David in his own judgment. This reflects the powerful strategy of conviction employed by the Holy Spirit, exposing sin not merely as an action, but as a betrayal of divine grace and calling. This verse sets the stage for genuine repentance (as seen in David's response in 2 Sam 12:13 and Ps 51), demonstrating that God's ultimate purpose in confronting sin is restoration through confession, even if it entails severe earthly consequences. It’s a profound testament to the truth that God will always confront sin, especially in the lives of those He has uniquely chosen and blessed, for the sake of His own glory and their ultimate sanctification.

2 Samuel 12 7 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:7 is the moment of reckoning for King David, following his deeply personal and grievous sins of adultery and murder. Nathan's declarative "You are the man!" is one of the most abrupt and powerful indictments in scripture, directly transferring the parable's moral condemnation onto the seemingly untouchable monarch. It stripped away David's authority and brought him face-to-face with his hypocrisy, forcing him to see his own actions through God's righteous eyes. This was not a subtle hint but a divine roar, emphasizing that God sees all and holds even the most powerful accountable.

The prophetic formula, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel," immediately elevates the accusation from human criticism to divine judgment, reminding David that his authority flows from God, and therefore, he is ultimately subservient to God's law. This declaration serves as a crucial boundary and limitation for any ruler – they reign under God's ultimate sovereignty.

Furthermore, Nathan's words highlight the extreme ingratitude in David's sin. God lists His overwhelming blessings to David: choosing and anointing him as king, elevating him above all others, and consistently delivering him from the life-threatening pursuit of Saul. These blessings underscore God's unwavering faithfulness. David's subsequent actions, which betray innocent Uriah and defile Bathsheba, appear as a profound betrayal of divine trust and a callous disregard for the very righteousness God exemplified in delivering David. This verse perfectly encapsulates the principle of greater accountability for those who receive greater blessings and authority from God.

This dramatic confrontation demonstrates the vital role of the prophet in ancient Israel as God's moral conscience and messenger, even to kings. Nathan’s courage exemplifies how God uses individuals to speak truth to power, often at great personal risk.