And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
Parallel translations
- WEB He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!”
- BSB Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”
- NKJV And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
- NASB So he must make restitution for the lamb four times over, since he did this thing and had no compassion.”
- NLT He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
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 rules the man must restore the lamb fourfold for his pitiless act. His just verdict will rebound upon his own house.
Overview
Invoking the law's principle of restitution, David demands fourfold repayment for the lamb. Tragically, his own house will suffer a fourfold loss of sons (Bathsheba's first child, Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah). The king's righteous judgment becomes the measure of the discipline that will fall on him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Exod 22:1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
- Prov 6:31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
- Luke 19:8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
- Jas 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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 12:6 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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