2 Samuel 12:4

A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

A traveller came to the rich man, and he didn’t want to take of his own flock and of his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

BSB

Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

KJV

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

ASV

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

BBE

Now a traveller came to the house of the man of wealth, but he would not take anything from his flock or his herd to make a meal for the traveller who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and made it ready for the man who had come.

Original Hebrew

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וַיָּבֹא vai·ya·vo' and he came H935 הֵלֶךְ he·lekh a traveler H1982 לְאִישׁ le·'ish to [the] man H376 הֶעָשִׁיר he·'a·shir (the) rich H6223 וַיַּחְמֹל vai·yach·mol and he spared H2550 לָקַחַת la·ka·chat to take H3947 מִצֹּאנוֹ mi·tzo·no one of own sheep his H6629 וּמִבְּקָרוֹ u·mi·be·ka·ro and one of own cattle his H1241 לַעֲשׂוֹת la·'a·sot to prepare H6213 לָאֹרֵחַ la·'o·re·ach for the traveler H732 הַבָּא־ ha·ba'- who had come H935 לוֹ lo to (the) him H9033 וַיִּקַּח vai·yi·kach and he took H3947 אֶת־ 'et- (marks the object) H853 כִּבְשַׂת kiv·sat [the] ewe-lamb of H3535 הָאִישׁ ha·'ish the man H376 הָרָאשׁ ha·rash (the) poor H7326 וַיַּעֲשֶׂהָ vai·ya·'a·se·ha and he prepared it H6213 לָאִישׁ la·'ish for the man H376 הַבָּא ha·ba' who had come H935 אֵלָיו 'e·lav to him H413

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–14

God will not suffer his people to lie still in sin. By this parable Nathan drew from David a sentence against himself. Great need there is of prudence in giving reproofs. In his application, he was faithful. He says in plain terms, Thou art the man. God shows how much he hates sin, even in his own people; and wherever he finds it, he will not let it go unpunished. David says not a word to excuse himself or make light of his sin, but freely owns it. When David said, I have sinned, and Nathan perceived that he was a true penitent, he assured him his sin was forgiven. Thou shalt not die: that is, not die eternally, nor be for ever put away from God, as thou wouldest have been, if thou hadst not put away the sin. Though thou shalt all thy days be chastened of the Lord, yet thou shalt not be condemned with the world. There is this great evil in the sins of those who profess religion and relation to God, that they furnish the enemies of God and religion with matter for reproach and blasphemy. And it appears from David's case, that even where pardon is obtained, the Lord will visit the transgression of his people with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. For one momentary gratification of a vile lust, David had to endure many days and years of extreme distress.

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 12 →

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.