English Standard Version
2 Samuel 11:2
2It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
2 Samuel 11:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
- New International Version (NIV)One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
Context of 2 Samuel 11:2
1In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
Read all of 2 Samuel 112 Samuel 11:2 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י׀ לְעֵ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶב וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֜ד מֵעַ֤ל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ עַל־גַּ֣ג בֵּית־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛ה רֹחֶ֖צֶת מֵעַ֣ל הַגָּ֑ג וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it came to pass in an eveningtideעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
- And it came to pass in an eveningtideעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- that Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- from off his bedמִשְׁכָּבmishkâb · bedH4904
- and walkedהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- upon the roofגָּגgâg · roofH1406
- of the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- a womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- washingרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
- veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- beautifulטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- to look uponמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 11:2
- 2 Samuel 4:5Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest.
- Proverbs 19:15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.
- Proverbs 24:33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
- Matthew 26:40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
- 1 Peter 4:7The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
- Deuteronomy 22:8"When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.
- Jeremiah 19:13The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah—all the houses on whose roofs offerings have been offered to all the host of heaven, and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods—shall be defiled like the place of Topheth.'"
- Matthew 10:27What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
- Acts 10:9The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
- Genesis 3:6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
- Genesis 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.
- Genesis 34:2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.
- Job 31:1"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
- Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
- Matthew 5:28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 11:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2In an evening-tide - David arose - He had been reposing on the roof of his house, to enjoy the breeze, as the noonday was too hot for the performance of business. This is still a constant custom on the flat-roofed houses in the East. He saw a woman washing herself - How could any woman of delicacy expose herself where she could be so fully and openly viewed? Did she not know that she was at least in view of the king's terrace? Was there no design in all…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2An eveningtide - The evening began at three o‘clock in the afternoon.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2strolled around on the roof: The roofs of houses were flat and often used for different activities, like drying and storing food (Joshua 2:6), walking and socializing, and sleeping in warm weather. Bathsheba was bathing in clear view from the roof of the king’s palace. She might have thought everyone was inside, escaping the heat or taking a midday rest.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed--The Hebrews, like other Orientals, rose at daybreak, and always took a nap during the heat of the day. Afterwards they lounged in the cool of the evening on their flat-roofed terraces. It is probable that David had ascended to enjoy the open-air refreshment earlier than usual.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 11:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries