2 Samuel 12:1-12

Nathan Rebukes David

1 And the Lord sent x Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, y "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 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, 1 and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, z "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb a fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, b 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 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. 9 c Why have you despised the word of the Lord, d to do what is evil in his sight? e You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and f have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, g but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'"

  1. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:7
    Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus sa...
    2 Samuel 12:13
    David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against th...
    2 Samuel 12:15
    Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord aff...
    2 Samuel 12:25
    And sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he...
    2 Samuel 7:2
    The king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, ...
    2 Samuel 7:4
    But that same night the word of the Lord came t...
    2 Samuel 7:17
    In accordance with all these words, and in acco...
    1 Kings 1:10
    But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Ben...
    1 Kings 1:22
    While she was still speaking with the king, Nat...
    1 Kings 1:34
    And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet...
    1 Kings 4:5
    Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers...
    1 Chronicles 29:29
    Now the acts of King David, from first to last,...
    2 Chronicles 9:29
    Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first...
  2. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:5 - 7
    And the king said to her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
    Judges 9:8 - 15
    The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.
    1 Kings 20:35 - 41
    And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, "Strike me, please." But the man refused to strike him.
  3. Cross References
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 22:1
    If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
    Luke 19:8
    And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:13
    Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 15:31
    Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:19
    Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord ? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord ?
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 11:15
    In the letter he wrote, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.
    2 Samuel 11:17
    And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.
  9. Cross References
    2 Samuel 11:27
    And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
  10. Cross References
    2 Samuel 16:22
    So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.