2 Samuel 12:6

2 Samuel 12:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
• New International Version (NIV)He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
• New Living Translation (NLT)He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

Context of 2 Samuel 12:6

4And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” 7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!

2 Samuel 12:6 word by word

וְאֶת־הַכִּבְשָׂ֖ה יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם עֵ֗קֶב אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וְעַ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־חָמָֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he shall restoreשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
• the lambכִּבְשָׂהkibώâh kabώâh · ewe-lambH3535
• fourfoldאַרְבַּעְתַּיִם'arba‛tayim · fourfoldH706
• becauseעֵ֫קֶב‛êqeb · consequenceH6118
• he didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• this thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• and becauseאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• he had no pityחָמַלchâmal · to spareH2550

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 12:6

• Exodus 22:1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
• Proverbs 6:31Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
• Luke 19:8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
• James 2:13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12:6

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Fourfold - The exact number prescribed by the Law (see the marginal references), and acted upon by Zaccheus. The Septuagint has “sevenfold,” as in Proverbs 6:31.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6The rich man of the parable did not deserve to die according to the law; instead, he must repay four lambs (compare Exodus 22:1). Interestingly, David later lost four of his sons: Bathsheba’s first child (2 Samuel 12:18) Amnon (2 Samuel 13:29) Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14–15) Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25)Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-62Sa 12:1-6. Nathan's Parable. 1. the Lord sent Nathan unto David--The use of parables is a favorite style of speaking among Oriental people, especially in the conveyance of unwelcome truth. This exquisitely pathetic parable was founded on a common custom of pastoral people who have pet lambs, which they bring up with their children, and which they address in terms of endearment. The atrocity of the real, however, far exceeded that of the fictitious…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 12:6

• David
• Minister, Christian
• Nathan
• Parables
• Reproof
• Self-Condemnation

In the dictionaries

• David
• Fast
• Fourfold
• Parable
• Samuel, Books of
• Solomon
• Tekoa, Tekoah
• Theft
• Uriah
• Bible, the

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