Tree of Life Version
2 Samuel 12:3
3but the poor man had nothing at all, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished, and it grew up together with him and his children. It ate from his own morsel and drank from his own cup, and nestled in his bosom, and it was to him like a daughter.
2 Samuel 12:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
- New International Version (NIV)but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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, and it was like a daughter to him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
Context of 2 Samuel 12:3
1Then Adonai sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said to him, “There were two men in the same city—one was rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had an exceedingly huge flock and herd, but the poor man had nothing at all, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished, and it grew up together with him and his children. It ate from his own morsel and drank from his own cup, and nestled in his bosom, and it was to him like a daughter. 4Now a traveler came to the rich man, but he was unwilling to take one from his own flock or herd to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Rather, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man that had come to him.” 5Then David’s anger blazed hot against the man and he said to Nathan, “As Adonai lives, the man that did this deserves to die!
Read all of 2 Samuel 122 Samuel 12:3 word by word
וְלָרָ֣שׁ אֵֽין־כֹּ֗ל כִּי֩ אִם־כִּבְשָׂ֨ה אַחַ֤ת קְטַנָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָנָ֔ה וַיְחַיֶּ֕הָ וַתִּגְדַּ֥ל עִמּ֛וֹ וְעִם־בָּנָ֖יו יַחְדָּ֑ו מִפִּתּ֨וֹ תֹאכַ֜ל וּמִכֹּס֤וֹ תִשְׁתֶּה֙ וּבְחֵיק֣וֹ תִשְׁכָּ֔ב וַתְּהִי־ל֖וֹ כְּבַֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But the poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
- had nothing, save oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- littleקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
- ewe lambכִּבְשָׂהkibώâh kabώâh · ewe-lambH3535
- which he had boughtקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
- and nourished upחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- and it grew upגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- togetherיָחְדָּוyachad · togetherH3162
- with him, and with his childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- it did eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- of his own meatפַּתpath · morselH6595
- and drankשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- of his own cupכּוֹסkôs · cupH3563
- and layשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: lay downH7901
- in his bosomחֵיקchêyq chêq chôq · bosom: embraceH2436
- and was unto him as a daughterבַּתbath · daughterH1323
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 12:3
- 2 Samuel 11:3So David sent someone to inquire about the woman, and he reported, “Isn’t this Bath-sheba, daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
- Proverbs 5:18May your fountain be blessed and may you delight in the wife of your youth.
- Deuteronomy 13:6That prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death! For he has spoken falsehood against Adonai your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to entice you from the way Adonai your God commanded you to walk. So you will purge the evil from your midst.
- Micah 7:5Do not trust in a friend. Do not trust in a close companion. Guard the openings of your mouth from her who lies on your breast.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 12:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And lay in his bosom - This can only mean that this lamb was what we call a pet or favourite in the family, else the circumstance would be very unnatural, and most likely would have prevented David from making the application which he did, as otherwise it would have appeared absurd. It is the only part of this parable which is at variance with nature and fact.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3like a daughter: Nathan compares the lamb to a daughter. The Hebrew word for “daughter” is bath. This creates a word connection with Bathsheba’s name, which begins with bath (see study note on 2 Samuel 11:3). This comparison strengthens the emotional force of the story and helps David recognize the injustice of his actions.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 12:3
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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