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 King James Version (NKJV)And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

Context of 2 Samuel 12:6

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! So he must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did such a thing and showed no pity.” 7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says Adonai, God of Israel: It is I who anointed you king over Israel, and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. Now if that were too little, then I would have added to you so 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 thief found breaking in is struck so that he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him.
• Proverbs 6:31Yet if he is caught, he must repay sevenfold, giving up all the wealth of his house.
• Luke 19:8But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord. “Look, Master, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have somehow cheated anyone, I repay four times as much!”
• James 2:13For judgment is merciless to the one who does not show 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