God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 12:16
16David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night.
2 Samuel 12:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
- New International Version (NIV)David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.
- English Standard Version (ESV)David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
- New King James Version (NKJV)David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
Context of 2 Samuel 12:16
14But since you have shown total contempt for the Lord by this affair, the son that is born to you must die.” 15Then Nathan went home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had given birth to for David so that the child became sick. David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night. 17The older leaders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling. And he wouldn’t eat with them. 18On the seventh day the child died. But David’s officials were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought, “While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm ⌞himself⌟.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 122 Samuel 12:16 word by word
וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּעַ֣ד הַנָּ֑עַר וַיָּ֤צָם דָּוִד֙ צ֔וֹם וּבָ֥א וְלָ֖ן וְשָׁכַ֥ב בַּשָּׂק אָֽרְצָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- therefore besoughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- for the childנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- fastedצוֹםtsôm tsôm · fastH6685
- fastedצוּםtsûm · to fastH6684
- and went inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and layשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
- all nightלוּןlûn lîyn · to lodgeH3885
- upon the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 12:16
- 2 Samuel 12:22David answered, “As long as the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’
- Psalms 50:15Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
- Isaiah 26:16O Lord, the people have come to you in trouble. They were humbled by oppression, by your discipline upon them.
- Joel 2:12“But even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart— with fasting, crying, and mourning.”
- Jonah 3:9Who knows? God may reconsider his plans and turn from his burning anger so that we won’t die.”
- Esther 4:16“Assemble all the Jews in Susa. Fast for me: Do not eat or drink at all for three entire days. My servants and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against a royal decree. If I die, I die.”
- Psalms 69:10I cried and fasted, but I was insulted for it.
- Isaiah 22:12On that day the Almighty Lord of Armies will call for crying and for mourning, for shaving your heads and for wearing sackcloth.
- Acts 9:9For three days he couldn’t see and didn’t eat or drink.
- 2 Samuel 13:31The king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing beside him with their clothes torn ⌞to show their grief⌟.
- Job 20:12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue….
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16David - besought God for the child - How could he do so, after the solemn assurance that he had from God that the child should die? The justice of God absolutely required that the penalty of the law should be exacted; either the father or the son shall die. This could not be reversed.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The death of the infant child of one of the numerous harem of an Oriental monarch would in general be a matter of little moment to the father. The deep feeling shown by David on this occasion is both an indication of his affectionate and tender nature, and also a proof of the strength of his passion for Bath-sheba. He went into his most private chamber, his closet Matthew 6:6, and “lay upon the earth” 2 Samuel 13:31, rather “the ground,” meaning the floor…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-25Verses 15-25 David now penned the 51st Psalm, in which, though he had been assured that his sin was pardoned, he prays earnestly for pardon, and greatly laments his sin. He was willing to bear the shame of it, to have it ever before him, to be continually upbraided with it. God gives us leave to be earnest with him in prayer for particular blessings, from trust in his power and general mercy, though we have no particular promise to build upon. David…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-31Chapter 12 expands on the final part of 2 Samuel 11:27.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2315-23. the Lord struck the child ... and it was very sick--The first visible chastisement inflicted on David appeared on the person of that child which was the evidence and monument of his guilt. His domestics were surprised at his conduct, and in explanation of its singularity, it is necessary to remark that the custom in the East is to leave the nearest relative of a deceased person to the full and undisturbed indulgence of his grief, till on the third…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 12:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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