And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
Parallel translations
- WEB David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house.
- BSB Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.
- NKJV Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
- NASB Then David sent messengers and had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.
- NLT Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David sends for Bathsheba and commits adultery with her, after which she returns home. The king abuses his power to take another man's wife.
Overview
David's repeated 'sending' shows him using royal authority to seize what is not his, an echo of the warning that kings would 'take' (1 Samuel 8). The note about her purification confirms the resulting child is David's, not Uriah's. Faithful readers recognize the gross sin here while noting the power imbalance between a king and a subject.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Lev 18:19Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
- Jas 1:14–15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
- Ps 51:1–19Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
- Prov 30:20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
- Lev 12:2–5Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
- Gen 39:7And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
- Job 31:9–11If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
- Lev 15:19–33And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
- Ps 50:18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 11:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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