David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
Parallel translations
- WEB David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.
- KJV David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
- NKJV David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
- NASB David therefore pleaded with God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.
- NLT David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground.
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 pleads with God for the child, fasting and lying all night on the ground. He responds to discipline with humble, earnest prayer.
Overview
Rather than hardening, David throws himself on God's mercy with fasting and prostration, hoping the LORD might be gracious. His response models how a repentant believer turns to God even when facing the consequences of sin. David appeals not to his own merit but to the compassion of the God he has wronged.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Sam 13:31Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
- Ps 69:10I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
- Esth 4:16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
- Jonah 3:9Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
- Isa 22:12On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
- Acts 9:9For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
- Ps 50:15Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
- 1 Kgs 21:27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
- 2 Sam 12:22David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
- Job 20:12–14Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
- Isa 26:16O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.
- Joel 2:12–14“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
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 12:16 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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