2 Samuel 12 שְׁמוּאֵל ב פרק י״ב

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 2 Samuel 12 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶת־נָתָןNathanאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֵלָיוto-himוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidלוֹto-himשְׁנֵיtwoאֲנָשִׁיםmenהָיוּwereבְּעִירin-one-cityאֶחָתoneאֶחָדoneעָשִׁירrichוְאֶחָדand-the-otherרָאשׁ׃poor

   And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2. 2

   לְעָשִׁירthe-rich-manהָיָהwasצֹאןflocksוּבָקָרand-herdsהַרְבֵּהvery-manyמְאֹד׃exceedingly

   The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3. 3

   וְלָרָשׁbut-the-poor-manאֵין־כֹּלhad-nothingכִּיbecauseאִם־כִּבְשָׂהexcept-one-ewe-lambאַחַתoneקְטַנָּהlittleאֲשֶׁרwhichקָנָהhe-had-boughtוַיְחַיֶּהָand-rearedוַתִּגְדַּלand-it-grew-upעִמּוֹwith-himוְעִם־בָּנָיוand-with-his-childrenיַחְדָּוtogetherמִפִּתּוֹof-his-own-breadתֹאכַלit-did-eatוּמִכֹּסוֹand-of-his-own-cupתִשְׁתֶּהdrankוּבְחֵיקוֹand-in-his-bosomתִשְׁכָּבlayוַתְּהִי־לוֹand-was-to-himכְּבַת׃like-a-daughter

   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.

4. 4

   וַיָּבֹאand-cameהֵלֶךְa-travellerלְאִישׁto-the-manהֶעָשִׁירthe-richוַיַּחְמֹלand-he-sparedלָקַחַתto-takeמִצֹּאנוֹof-his-own-flockוּמִבְּקָרוֹand-of-his-own-herdלַעֲשׂוֹתto-prepareלָאֹרֵחַfor-the-wayfaring-manהַבָּא־לוֹthat-was-come-to-himוַיִּקַּחand-tookאֶת־כִּבְשַׂתthe-lamb-ofהָאִישׁthe-manהָרָאשׁthe-poorוַיַּעֲשֶׂהָand-prepared-itלָאִישׁto-the-manהַבָּאthat-was-comeאֵלָיו׃to-him

   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.

5. 5

   וַיִּחַר־אַףand-was-kindled-the-anger-ofדָּוִדDavidבָּאִישׁagainst-the-manמְאֹדexceedinglyוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֶל־נָתָןto-Nathanחַי־יְהֹוָהas-the-LORD-livesכִּיthatבֶן־מָוֶתis-worthy-to-dieהָאִישׁthe-manהָעֹשֶׂהthat-has-doneזֹאת׃this

   And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6. 6

   וְאֶת־הַכִּבְשָׂהand-the-ewe-lambיְשַׁלֵּםhe-shall-restoreאַרְבַּעְתָּיִםfourfoldעֵקֶבbecauseאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהhe-didאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisוְעַלand-becauseאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־חָמָל׃he-had-no-pity

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

7. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidנָתָןNathanאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidאַתָּהyouהָאִישׁthe-manכֹּה־אָמַרthus-saysיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe-God-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאָנֹכִיIמְשַׁחְתִּיךָI-anointed-youלְמֶלֶךְkingעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵלover-Israelוְאָנֹכִיand-IהִצַּלְתִּיךָI-delivered-youמִיַּדfrom-the-hand-ofשָׁאוּל׃Saul

   And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8. 8

   וָאֶתְּנָהand-I-gaveלְךָfor-youאֶת־בֵּיתhouse-ofאֲדֹנֶיךָyour-master'sוְאֶת־נְשֵׁיand-the-wives-ofאֲדֹנֶיךָyour-master'sבְּחֵיקֶךָin-your-bosomוָאֶתְּנָהand-I-gaveלְךָfor-youאֶת־בֵּיתhouse-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוִיהוּדָהand-Judahוְאִם־מְעָטand-if-too-littleוְאֹסִפָהI-would-have-addedלְּךָto-youכָּהֵנָּהas-muchוְכָהֵנָּה׃and-as-much-again

   And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9. 9

   מַדּוּעַwhyבָּזִיתָhave-you-despisedאֶת־דְּבַרthe-commandment-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDלַעֲשׂוֹתto-doהָרַעevil(בעינו)[בְּעֵינַי]in-my-eyesאֵת־אוּרִיָּהUriahהַחִתִּיthe-Hittiteהִכִּיתָyou-have-killedבַחֶרֶבby-the-swordוְאֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹand-his-wifeלָקַחְתָּyou-have-takenלְּךָto-youלְאִשָּׁהto-be-your-wifeוְאֹתוֹand-himהָרַגְתָּyou-have-slainבְּחֶרֶבwith-the-sword-ofבְּנֵיthe-sons-ofעַמּוֹן׃Ammon

   Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10. 10

    וְעַתָּהand-nowלֹא־תָסוּרshall-never-departחֶרֶבthe-sword-ofמִבֵּיתְךָfrom-your-houseעַד־עוֹלָםforeverעֵקֶבbecauseכִּיbecauseבְזִתָנִיyou-have-despised-meוַתִּקַּחand-have-takenאֶת־אֵשֶׁתthe-wife-ofאוּרִיָּהUriahהַחִתִּיthe-Hittiteלִהְיוֹתto-beלְךָfor-youלְאִשָּׁה׃׃to-be-your-wife

    Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11. 11

    כֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDהִנְנִיbehold-Iמֵקִיםwill-raise-upעָלֶיךָupon-youרָעָהevilמִבֵּיתֶךָout-of-your-own-houseוְלָקַחְתִּיand-I-will-takeאֶת־נָשֶׁיךָyour-wivesלְעֵינֶיךָbefore-your-eyesוְנָתַתִּיand-give-themלְרֵעֶיךָto-your-neighborוְשָׁכַבand-he-shall-lieעִם־נָשֶׁיךָwith-your-wivesלְעֵינֵיin-the-eyes-ofהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe-sunהַזֹּאת׃this

    Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12. 12

    כִּיforאַתָּהyouעָשִׂיתָyou-didבַסָּתֶרsecretlyוַאֲנִיand-Iאֶעֱשֶׂהwill-doאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisנֶגֶדbeforeכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall-Israelוְנֶגֶדand-beforeהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃the-sun

    For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidאֶל־נָתָןto-NathanחָטָאתִיI-have-sinnedלַיהֹוָהto-the-LORDוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidנָתָןNathanאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidגַּם־יְהֹוָהalso-the-LORDהֶעֱבִירhas-put-awayחַטָּאתְךָyour-sinלֹאnotתָמוּת׃you-shall-die

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14. 14

    אֶפֶסhowbeitכִּי־נִאֵץbecause-greatlyנִאַצְתָּyou-have-blasphemedאֶת־אֹיְבֵיthe-enemies-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDבַּדָּבָרby-this-deedהַזֶּהthisגַּםalsoהַבֵּןthe-sonהַיִּלּוֹדthat-is-bornלְךָfor-youמוֹתsurelyיָמוּת׃he-shall-die

    Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

15. 15

    וַיֵּלֶךְand-wentנָתָןNathanאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-houseוַיִּגֹּףand-struckיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶת־הַיֶּלֶדthe-childאֲשֶׁרwhichיָלְדָהboreאֵשֶׁת־אוּרִיָּהthe-wife-of-Uriahלְדָוִדto-Davidוַיֵּאָנַשׁ׃and-it-was-very-sick

    And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

16. 16

    וַיְבַקֵּשׁand-besoughtדָּוִדDavidאֶת־הָאֱלֹהִיםGodבְּעַדforהַנָּעַרthe-childוַיָּצׇםand-fastedדָּוִדDavidצוֹםa-fastוּבָאand-went-inוְלָןand-lay-all-nightוְשָׁכַבand-layאָרְצָה׃upon-the-ground

    David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

17. 17

    וַיָּקֻמוּand-they-rose-upזִקְנֵיthe-elders-ofבֵיתוֹhis-houseעָלָיוupon-himלַהֲקִימוֹto-raise-him-upמִן־הָאָרֶץfrom-the-groundוְלֹאand-notאָבָהhe-would-notוְלֹא־בָרָאneither-did-he-eatאִתָּםwith-themלָחֶם׃bread

    And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18. 18

    וַיְהִיand-it-came-to-passבַּיּוֹםin-the-dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיthe-seventhוַיָּמׇתand-he-diedהַיָּלֶדthe-boyוַיִּרְאוּfearedעַבְדֵיservants-ofדָוִדDavidלְהַגִּידto-tellלוֹto-himכִּי־מֵתbecause-is-deadהַיֶּלֶדthe-childכִּיforאָמְרוּthey-saidהִנֵּהbeholdבִהְיוֹתwhile-wasהַיֶּלֶדthe-childחַיlivingדִּבַּרְנוּwe-spokeאֵלָיוto-himוְלֹא־שָׁמַעand-he-would-not-hearkenבְּקוֹלֵנוּto-our-voiceוְאֵיךְhow-thenנֹאמַרshall-we-tellאֵלָיוto-himמֵתdiedהַיֶּלֶדthe-childוְעָשָׂהand-he-will-doרָעָה׃himself-a-mischief

    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

19. 19

    וַיַּרְאand-sawדָּוִדDavidכִּיbecauseעֲבָדָיוhis-servantsמִתְלַחֲשִׁיםwhisperedוַיָּבֶןand-understoodדָּוִדDavidכִּיbecauseמֵתdiedהַיָּלֶדthe-boyוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidאֶל־עֲבָדָיוto-his-servantsהֲמֵתis-deadהַיֶּלֶדthe-childוַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidמֵת׃died

    But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20. 20

    וַיָּקׇםand-aroseדָּוִדDavidמֵהָאָרֶץfrom-the-groundוַיִּרְחַץand-washedוַיָּסֶךְand-anointed-himselfוַיְחַלֵּףand-changedשִׂמְלֹתָוhis-apparelוַיָּבֹאand-cameבֵית־יְהֹוָהhouse-of-the-LORDוַיִּשְׁתָּחוּand-bowed-downוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-houseוַיִּשְׁאַלand-asked-themוַיָּשִׂימוּto-setלוֹto-himלֶחֶםbreadוַיֹּאכַל׃and-he-did-eat

    Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

21. 21

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidעֲבָדָיוhis-servantsאֵלָיוto-himמָה־הַדָּבָרwhat-the-thingהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשִׂיתָהyou-have-doneבַּעֲבוּרforהַיֶּלֶדthe-childחַיlivingצַמְתָּyou-did-fastוַתֵּבְךְּand-weepוְכַאֲשֶׁרand-asמֵתdiedהַיֶּלֶדthe-childקַמְתָּyou-did-riseוַתֹּאכַלand-eatלָחֶם׃bread

    Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22. 22

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidבְּעוֹדwhile-yetהַיֶּלֶדthe-childחַיlivingצַמְתִּיI-fastedוָאֶבְכֶּהand-weptכִּיforאָמַרְתִּיI-saidמִיwhoיוֹדֵעַcan-tell(יחנני)[וְחַנַּנִי]may-be-gracious-to-meיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוְחַיand-may-liveהַיָּלֶד׃the-boy

    And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23. 23

    וְעַתָּהand-nowמֵתdiedלָמָּהwhyזֶּהthisאֲנִיIצָםshould-I-fastהַאוּכַלcan-Iלַהֲשִׁיבוֹbring-him-backעוֹדany-moreאֲנִיIהֹלֵךְshall-goאֵלָיוto-himוְהוּאand-heלֹא־יָשׁוּבwill-not-come-backאֵלָי׃unto-me

    But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

24. 24

    וַיְנַחֵםand-comfortedדָּוִדDavidאֵת־בַּת־שֶׁבַעBath-shebaאִשְׁתּוֹhis-wifeוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֵלֶיהָto-herוַיִּשְׁכַּבand-layעִמָּהּwith-herוַתֵּלֶדand-boreבֵּןa-son(ויקרא)[וַתִּקְרָא]and-he-calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis-nameשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonוַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDאֲהֵבוֹ׃loved-him

    And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

25. 25

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentבְּיַדin-the-hand-ofנָתָןNathanהַנָּבִיאthe-prophetוַיִּקְרָאand-he-calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis-nameיְדִידְיָהּJedidiahבַּעֲבוּרfor-the-sake-ofיְהֹוָה׃the-LORD

    And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26. 26

    וַיִּלָּחֶםand-he-foughtיוֹאָבJoabבְּרַבַּתagainst-Rabbah-ofבְּנֵיthe-sons-ofעַמּוֹןAmmonוַיִּלְכֹּדand-he-capturedאֶת־עִירthe-city-ofהַמְּלוּכָה׃the-royal

    And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27. 27

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentיוֹאָבJoabמַלְאָכִיםmessengersאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidנִלְחַמְתִּיI-have-foughtבְרַבָּהagainst-Rabbahגַּם־לָכַדְתִּיand-have-takenאֶת־עִירthe-city-ofהַמָּיִם׃the-water

    And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

28. 28

    וְעַתָּהand-nowאֱסֹףgatherאֶת־יֶתֶרthe-rest-ofהָעָםthe-peopleוַחֲנֵהand-encampעַל־הָעִירupon-the-cityוְלׇכְדָהּand-take-itפֶּן־אֶלְכֹּדlest-I-takeאֲנִיIאֶת־הָעִירthe-cityוְנִקְרָאand-it-be-calledשְׁמִיmy-nameעָלֶיהָ׃upon-it

    Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

29. 29

    וַיֶּאֱסֹףand-gathered-togetherדָּוִדDavidאֶת־כׇּל־הָעָםall-the-peopleוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentרַבָּתָהto-Rabbahוַיִּלָּחֶםand-he-foughtבָּהּin-itוַיִּלְכְּדָהּ׃and-took-it

    And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

30. 30

    וַיִּקַּחand-tookאֶת־עֲטֶרֶת־מַלְכָּםtheir-kings-crownמֵעַלfrom-uponרֹאשׁוֹhis-headוּמִשְׁקָלָהּand-its-weightכִּכַּרa-talent-ofזָהָבgoldוְאֶבֶןwith-the-stonesיְקָרָהpreciousוַתְּהִיand-it-was-setעַל־רֹאשׁupon-the-head-ofדָּוִדDavidוּשְׁלַלand-the-plunder-ofהָעִירthe-cityהוֹצִיאhe-brought-outהַרְבֵּהin-great-abundanceמְאֹד׃exceedingly

    And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

31. 31

    וְאֶת־הָעָםand-the-peopleאֲשֶׁר־בָּהּwhich-in-itהוֹצִיאhe-brought-outוַיָּשֶׂםand-set-themבַּמְּגֵרָהto-sawsוּבַחֲרִצֵיand-harrows-ofהַבַּרְזֶלthe-ironוּבְמַגְזְרֹתand-axes-ofהַבַּרְזֶלthe-ironוְהֶעֱבִירand-made-passאוֹתָםthem[בַּמַּלְבֵּן]through-the-brick-kilnוְכֵןand-soיַעֲשֶׂהdid-heלְכֹלto-allעָרֵיcities-ofבְנֵי־עַמּוֹןsons-of-Ammonוַיָּשׇׁבand-returnedדָּוִדDavidוְכׇל־הָעָםand-all-the-peopleיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Jerusalem

    And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.