2 Samuel 12:6

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

American Standard Version (1901)

and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

Bible in Basic English

And he will have to give back four times the value of the lamb, because he has done this and because he had no pity.

Douay-Rheims 1899

He shall restore the ewe fourfold, because he did this thing, and had no pity.

Free Bible Version

He must repay that lamb with four of his own for doing this, for being so heartless.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And he shall restore the lambe foure folde, because he did this thing, and had no pitie thereof.

King James (Authorized) Version

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

Translation for Translators

But before he is executed, he should pay back to the poor man four lambs for doing this, and for not having pity on the poor man.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

He must pay back the lamb four times over because he did such a thing, and because he had no pity on the poor man.”

Noah Webster Bible

And he shall restore the lamb four-fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

World English Bible

He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity!”

Young's Literal Translation

and the ewe-lamb he doth repay fourfold, because that he hath done this thing, and because that he had no pity.'

Context

Nathan Rebukes David

⁵David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!⁶Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

Summary

In this verse, Nathan the prophet confronts King David about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. Nathan uses a clever analogy of a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb to illustrate David's abuse of power and betrayal of trust. This confrontation serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin, even for a king like David. It also demonstrates the role of a prophet in speaking truth to power and holding leaders accountable to God's standards.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Nathan said to David, thou art the man,.... The rich man, or who is designed by him in the parable, and answers to him (t): thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel; that is, ordered Samuel to anoint him, who did, Sa1 16:1; to which this chiefly refers; and after that he was anointed first by the tribe of Judah, and then by all the tribes of Israel, by the appointment and providence of God; and this was great dignity he designed for him, and raised him to: and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; when he persecuted him, and sought to take away his life. (t) "----- mutato nomine, de te Fabula narratur -----". Horat. Sermon. l. 1. Satyr. 1. ver. 69,70.