David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.
- BSB David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
- 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 arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
- Ps 69:10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
- Esth 4:16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Jonah 3:9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
- Isa 22:12And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
- Acts 9:9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
- Ps 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
- 1 Kgs 21:27And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- 2 Sam 12:22And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
- Job 20:12–14Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
- Isa 26:16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
- Joel 2:12–14Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
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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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