New English Translation
2 Samuel 11:2
2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive.
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Samuel 11:2
1In the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. 3So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home.
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 – Recab and Baanah – went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.
- Proverbs 19:15Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry.
- Proverbs 24:33“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,
- Matthew 26:40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.
- 1 Peter 4:7For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
- Deuteronomy 22:8If you build a new house, you must construct a guard rail around your roof to avoid being culpable in the event someone should fall from it.
- Jeremiah 19:13The houses in Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled by dead bodies just like this place, Topheth. For they offered sacrifice to the stars and poured out drink offerings to other gods on the roofs of those houses.’”
- Matthew 10:27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
- Acts 10:9About noon the next day, while they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
- Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
- Genesis 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose.
- Genesis 34:2When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her.
- Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?
- Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!
- Matthew 5:28But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her 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
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