2 Samuel 12:14

14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for^[a] the LORD, the son born to you will die.”

2 Samuel 12:14 in Other Translations

14 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.

14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die."

14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.”

14 But because of your blasphemous behavior, the son born to you will die."

14 However, because you treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die."

2 Samuel 12:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 12:14

Howbeit, because by this deed
This complicated wickedness, adultery with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband, and occasioning the death of others:

thou hast given great reason to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme;
to insult over Israel, and the God of Israel, and to magnify their own idols on account of the advantage they got when Uriah and other Israelites were slain; and to speak ill of God as a respecter of persons, who had cast off Saul and his family from the kingdom, and yet established David in it, guilty of crimes the other was not; and of the word, ways, and worship of God, and of the true religion, as all hypocrisy and deceit, when men that made such pretensions to it were guilty of such atrocious crimes; wherefore to let such see and know that the Lord did not approve of and countenance such actions, but abhorred and resented them:

the child also [that is] born unto thee shall surely die;
which would be a visible testimony of God's displeasure at his sin, to all men that should hear of it, and know it; and being taken away in such a manner would be a great affliction to him, and the more as his affections were much towards the child, as appears by what follows; or otherwise the removal of it might have been considered as a mercy, since its life would have kept up the remembrance of the sin, and have been a standing reproach to him.

2 Samuel 12:14 In-Context

12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die.”

15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24

Footnotes

• [a]. An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text "for the enemies of"