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Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
2 Samuel 12:14 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”
  • KJV 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.
  • NKJV However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
  • NASB However, since by this deed you have shown utter disrespect for the Lord, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die.”
  • NLT Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”

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

Because David's deed gave God's enemies cause to blaspheme, the child born to him will die. Forgiveness does not cancel this grievous consequence.

Overview

David's sin has dishonored the LORD's name before the watching nations, and the death of the child will follow. The penalty shows that sin by God's people brings reproach on His name and real, painful consequences. Even forgiven sin can leave deep wounds, a sobering counterpart to the assurance of pardon just given.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Rom 2:24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
  • Isa 52:5And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.
  • Ps 89:31–33if they violate My statutes and fail to keep My commandments,
  • Heb 12:6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
  • Rev 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
  • Prov 3:11–12My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
  • Ps 94:12Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
  • Ps 74:10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
  • Ezek 36:20–23And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’
  • Neh 5:9So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?
  • Amos 3:2“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
  • Matt 18:7Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
  • 1 Cor 11:32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Samuel 12:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 12:14 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.