2 Samuel 12 8

2 Samuel 12:8 kjv

And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

2 Samuel 12:8 nkjv

I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!

2 Samuel 12:8 niv

I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.

2 Samuel 12:8 esv

And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.

2 Samuel 12:8 nlt

I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 8 Meaning

In 2 Samuel 12:8, the Prophet Nathan, speaking on behalf of God, rebukes King David by enumerating the abundant blessings God had already bestowed upon him. This verse highlights God's lavish generosity, contrasting it sharply with David's recent actions of coveting and taking Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. God explicitly reminds David that He had provided him with all the regalia of kingship: the "house" of his predecessor Saul (meaning his property, household, and royal authority), even Saul's wives (symbolizing the complete transfer of power), and supreme dominion over the entire unified kingdom of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, God emphatically states that if David had perceived any of these vast blessings as insufficient, He was prepared to bestow "such and such things," indicating an even greater, immeasurable wealth and provision. This declaration serves to underscore David's profound ingratitude and the egregious nature of his sin, which stemmed not from deprivation, but from a wanton disregard of God's abundant grace.

2 Samuel 12 8 Context

2 Samuel 12:8 is delivered by the Prophet Nathan as he confronts King David about his heinous sins concerning Bathsheba and Uriah (detailed in 2 Samuel 11). Immediately following Nathan's powerful "You are the man!" (2 Sam 12:7), this verse serves as a rhetorical foundation for God's indictment. God recounts the specific and abundant blessings He bestowed upon David since elevating him from a shepherd to king, emphasizing David's privileged status and God's consistent provision. The historical context reflects the custom in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms where a new king, particularly one who succeeded a previous dynasty (as David did to Saul), would symbolically take possession of the former king's household, including his wives/concubines, to solidify his legitimate claim to the throne and signify complete transfer of power. This act of "giving" them to David highlights God's agency in legitimizing David's rule. David had no grounds for desiring another's possession, especially since God had already given him immeasurably more. This verse sets the stage for the severe divine judgment that would fall upon David's house as a consequence of his grave transgression.

2 Samuel 12 8 Word analysis

• And I gave thee (וָאֶתֵּן לְךָ, wa'ettēn lěkā): The Hebrew verb nātan (נתן), "to give," repeated here, emphasizes that God was the active, benevolent grantor of all David's blessings. It underlines divine initiative and David's reception as a gift, not something earned or seized.
• thy master's house (בֵּית אֲדֹנֶיךָ, bêt 'ădōneykā): "Master" (ădôn אֲדֹן) refers to King Saul. "House" (bayit בַּיִת) signifies the entire royal establishment of Saul—his wealth, possessions, household, lands, and essentially, the trappings of royal authority and lineage that were transferred to David upon his ascendancy.
• and thy master's wives (נְשֵׁי אֲדֹנֶיךָ, něšê 'ădōneykā): "Wives" (nāšîm נָשִׁים). In ancient Near Eastern culture, acquiring the previous king's wives/harem was a potent symbol of fully assuming the deceased king's power and legitimacy, demonstrating continuity and conquest of the old regime. God states He gave these to David, affirming David's legitimate inheritance of Saul's full royal prerogatives as God's chosen king.
• into thy bosom (בְּחֵיקֶךָ, běḥêqekā): ḥêq (חֵיק) literally means "bosom," referring to the folds of a garment over the chest, where valuables were often carried. Figuratively, it signifies being given into one's full possession, protection, intimacy, and care. It implies full control and ownership rightfully transferred to David.
• and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah: Refers to David's kingship over the unified kingdom, comprising all twelve tribes. This signifies complete national dominion, the highest level of temporal power for an Israelite monarch, explicitly granted by God.
• and if that had been too little (וְאִם־מְעָט, wə’im-mə‘āṭ): "Too little" (mĕ‘aṭ מְעָט) expresses inadequacy. This phrase highlights the profound rhetorical point: David had received an overwhelming abundance. God's question challenges David's perception, indicating his sin was not a response to unmet needs.
• I would moreover have given thee such and such things (וָאֹסִפָה לְךָ כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת, wā’ōsifâ lěkā kāzō't wěkāzō't): ’āsaf (אָסַף) means "to add." "Such and such things" is a common Hebrew idiomatic expression for indefinite, limitless additional blessings. This emphasizes God's boundless, overflowing generosity, willing to provide David with anything else he desired or needed, implying there was no limit to God's readiness to bless him if he had merely asked.

Words-group Analysis

• "And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah": This catalog of God's direct gifts highlights the vast scope of His provision to David, ranging from personal dominion over Saul's former household (including a highly symbolic element in the wives) to the complete political control over the entire nation. The repetitive "gave thee" emphasizes God's unwavering agency and David's utter indebtedness. This serves to maximize the perceived gravity of David's sin in seeking what was not his, when he had been granted so much.
• "and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given thee such and such things": This climactic rhetorical statement dramatically expands on God's generosity, implying an inexhaustible supply of blessings that would have been available to David. It strips away any possible justification for David's covetousness or feeling of deprivation, exposing his sin as sheer ingratitude and wanton disregard for divine provision, freely offered and readily available.

2 Samuel 12 8 Bonus section

• This verse is a prime example of God's "rib" (רִיב) or legal-theological indictment against an individual, where God Himself acts as the accuser, listing the ways He has faithfully provided and showing how the accused (David) has transgressed despite these blessings.
• The emphasis on "I gave thee" reinforces divine election and providence in David's kingship. His rise to power was entirely by God's design and generous hand, not by human machinations or merit.
• The detail of "Saul's wives" serves not as a divine endorsement of polygyny but as an objective statement of fact about David's received inheritance and position within the customs of the time, highlighting the extent of God's grant of legitimate power and resources.
• The rhetorical "such and such things" is an example of an enthymeme in ancient rhetoric, where the specific details are left to the audience's imagination, amplifying the sense of infinite generosity and making David's sin appear even more inexplicable and defiant.

2 Samuel 12 8 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:8 is a cornerstone of Nathan's indictment against King David, articulating God's deep disappointment and establishing the foundation for divine judgment. The verse powerfully contrasts God's boundless grace with David's covetous and destructive actions. By explicitly itemizing the immense gifts—Saul's royal household and wives, along with sovereign rule over all Israel and Judah—God exposes the radical disconnect between David's privileged reality and his sinful choices. This was not a king lacking in anything; David had been given the ultimate symbols of power, wealth, and authority. The additional promise, "if that had been too little, I would moreover have given thee such and such things," functions as a searing indictment, revealing that David's sin was not born of genuine need but from an inner lack of contentment, a craving for what was forbidden, despite the immeasurable blessings already poured upon him. This divine account underscores that sin often flourishes not in the barrenness of need, but in the soil of ingratitude amidst superabundance, serving as a solemn warning against taking God's generosity for granted.