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.”
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.
- BSB Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will 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 2:24For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
- Isa 52:5“Now therefore, what do I do here,” says Yahweh, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock,” says Yahweh, “and my name is blasphemed continually all day long.
- Ps 89:31–33if they break my statutes, and don’t keep my commandments;
- Heb 12:6For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
- Rev 3:19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
- Prov 3:11–12My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:
- Ps 94:12Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah, and teach out of your law;
- Ps 74:10How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
- Ezek 36:20–23When they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Yahweh, and are gone out of his land.
- Neh 5:9Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
- Amos 3:2“I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”
- Matt 18:7“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
- 1 Cor 11:32But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 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.