2 Samuel 12 9

2 Samuel 12:9 kjv

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

2 Samuel 12:9 nkjv

Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.

2 Samuel 12:9 niv

Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 esv

Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:9 nlt

Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 9 Meaning

Nathan's piercing rhetorical question in 2 Samuel 12:9 directly accuses King David of despising God's word and actively committing gross evil. This contempt for divine authority is manifested in three distinct, severe acts: the orchestrated killing of Uriah the Hittite, David's loyal soldier; the seizing of Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, for himself, an act of adultery compounded by usurpation; and the cynical exploitation of the Ammonite war to disguise Uriah's murder, thereby deflecting direct culpability while still being fully accountable before God. It emphasizes that David's sin was not an accident but a deliberate defiance of God's will and moral law, committed "in His sight."

2 Samuel 12 9 Context

2 Samuel chapter 12 details the prophet Nathan's confrontation with King David. This verse comes immediately after Nathan's powerful parable of the rich man who took the poor man's single lamb, prompting David's righteous outrage and declaration that the rich man deserved to die (2 Sam 12:1-6). Nathan then delivers the devastating "You are the man!" (12:7a), directly revealing God's prior blessings upon David before articulating God's deep offense in verse 9. This verse marks the explicit divine indictment, laying bare David's actions of adultery with Bathsheba, his manipulation to secure Uriah's death on the battlefield, and his subsequent marriage to Bathsheba, all in defiance of the covenant God had established. The larger historical context involves David's position as king, entrusted with ruling God's people righteously, and the backdrop of ongoing wars, specifically against the Ammonites, which David, ironically, was not personally leading from the front lines when his sin occurred. This encounter with Nathan signifies a pivotal turning point, leading to immediate judgment and lasting consequences for David's household, despite his subsequent repentance.

2 Samuel 12 9 Word analysis

• "Why" (לָ֣מָּה - lammah): This is a rhetorical question that carries strong moral indignation and accusation. It's not seeking information but challenging the rationale behind an unjust action, implying there is no justifiable reason. It sets a tone of direct condemnation.
• "have you despised" (בַּזִּ֤יתָ - bāzīṯā): From the Hebrew verb בָּזָה (bazah), meaning "to despise," "to treat with contempt," "to scorn," "to hold in low esteem," or "to disrespect." This is a severe indictment. It's not merely that David sinned, but that he demonstrated an inner disposition of disrespect for God's law, viewing it as insignificant or worthless, despite receiving great favor from God. This speaks to a willful act of the heart.
• "the word of the LORD" (אֶת־דְּבַר־יְהוָה֙ - ’et-dəvar-YHWH): Refers to the divine will, commandments, laws, and statutes of God, particularly those established in the Mosaic Covenant. David, as king, was explicitly meant to rule according to these words (Deut 17:18-20). By despising it, David implicitly despises the covenant Lord Himself. This highlights that David's sin was against God directly, not merely against Uriah or Bathsheba.
• "by doing what is evil" (לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הָרַ֣ע - la‘ăśōṯ hā·ra‘): This phrase emphasizes the active, deliberate nature of David's transgression. It signifies a clear departure from what is morally right according to God's standards. "Evil" (ra‘) here implies wickedness and morally offensive conduct in God's eyes.
• "in his sight" (בְּעֵינָ֔י - bə‘ênay): Literally "in My eyes" (first person singular from God's perspective). This underscores that God saw everything David did, even his secretive plots. It refutes any notion that David could hide his sin from the Almighty. This is God's own direct evaluation of the offense.
• "You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword": While David didn't physically wield the sword, "struck down" (הִכִּ֣יתָ - hikkiṯā) implicates him as the orchestrator of the killing. It points to his indirect yet absolute responsibility for Uriah's death. Uriah, though a Hittite by ethnicity, was a loyal, integral member of David's elite "mighty men," highlighting David's betrayal of a faithful servant.
• "and have taken his wife to be your own": The verb "taken" (לָקַ֣חְתָּ - lāqaḥtā) signifies an act of seizing or appropriating, implying force or illicit acquisition. This action constituted both adultery (against Uriah) and a blatant violation of the coveting commandment.
• "and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites": This explicitly reveals the means by which David executed his plan: through the agency of his enemies. This was a cowardly, deceitful act of murder by proxy, an attempt to hide his direct involvement. It highlights David's manipulative and calculating nature in seeking to cover his sin.

2 Samuel 12 9 Bonus section

• The rhetorical "Why?" challenges not only David's actions but the very reasoning and motivation behind them. It implies a questioning of David's understanding of God's covenant and kingship.
• Uriah the Hittite's exemplary loyalty (e.g., his refusal to go home to his wife while the ark and his comrades were in the field, 2 Sam 11:11) starkly contrasts with David's dereliction of duty and moral compromise. Uriah's faithfulness amplifies the severity of David's treachery against him.
• This specific phrasing is central to understanding the nature of sin as portrayed in the Old Testament: it is not just breaking a rule, but offending God by undervaluing His wisdom and authority.

2 Samuel 12 9 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:9 serves as the devastating summation of King David's multifaceted sin, articulating it from God's own perspective as communicated through Nathan. It highlights that David's actions—adultery, covetousness, and particularly murder—were not mere lapses but a profound act of "despising the word of the LORD." This term indicates a deliberate, contemptuous rejection of God's authority and moral standards, not just a failure to uphold them. The repeated emphasis on Uriah's identity and David's cunning methods underscores the heinous nature of his crimes: striking down a loyal warrior with strategic malice and using the hands of an enemy to conceal his personal depravity. David's attempts to hide his actions were futile, as everything was done "in God's sight." This verse lays the foundation for the severe judgment that would follow David and his house, demonstrating that even a beloved king is not above divine accountability. It’s a powerful reminder that outward sin often stems from an inward disrespect for God’s truth and character.