2 Samuel 12:11

KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, Behold, I will raise up {H6965} evil {H7451} against thee out of thine own house {H1004}, and I will take {H3947} thy wives {H802} before thine eyes {H5869}, and give {H5414} them unto thy neighbour {H7453}, and he shall lie {H7901} with thy wives {H802} in the sight {H5869} of this sun {H8121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Here is what ADONAI says: 'I will generate evil against you out of your own household. I will take your wives before your very eyes and give them to your neighbor; he will go to bed with your wives, and everyone will know about it.

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.

American Standard Version

Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Samuel 12:11 records the Lord's solemn declaration of judgment against King David, delivered through the prophet Nathan, following David's grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. This verse reveals that the consequences of David's actions would manifest as internal strife and public humiliation originating from within his own household, specifically involving his wives being taken and publicly shamed by a "neighbor" in broad daylight, a severe and fitting retribution for his secret transgressions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of David's life, immediately following his confession of sin (2 Samuel 12:13) after Nathan's powerful and convicting parable of the rich man and the poor man's lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-6). Nathan had just pronounced that while David's life would be spared, the sword would never depart from his house (2 Samuel 12:10), and the child born of Bathsheba would die (2 Samuel 12:14). Verse 11 details a specific, deeply personal, and publicly humiliating aspect of this divine judgment, directly linking the nature of the punishment to the nature of David's sin. It sets the stage for the tragic events that unfold later in David's family, particularly Absalom's rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's wives and concubines were symbols of his power, prestige, and legitimate claim to the throne. To seize a king's wives was a direct act of usurpation and a profound public dishonor, effectively declaring oneself the new king. David's sin involved secretly taking another man's wife and then orchestrating his death to cover it up. The judgment pronounced by Nathan, therefore, is culturally resonant: a public, humiliating act involving David's own wives, mirroring the secrecy and illicit nature of his original offense. This context highlights the severe implications of David's actions not just for his personal life, but for the stability and honor of his entire kingdom.
* **Key Themes:** The primary themes in 2 Samuel 12:11 include **divine justice and retribution**, demonstrating that God, though merciful, is also righteous and holds even His anointed ones accountable for their sins. The verse powerfully illustrates the **inescapable consequences of sin**, even after repentance and forgiveness; while the eternal penalty might be removed, earthly repercussions often remain, impacting individuals, families, and even nations. It also underscores the **sovereignty of God** in orchestrating or permitting events to fulfill His declared judgments, as seen in the subsequent fulfillment of this prophecy through Absalom's actions in [2 Samuel 16:21-22](/2_samuel/16-21 "2 Samuel 16:21-22 - Absalom's Public Act"). This passage reinforces the biblical principle that actions have consequences, a theme woven throughout the book of [2 Samuel](/2_samuel/1 "The Book of 2 Samuel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Evil (Hebrew, _ra'ah'_):** The Hebrew word רָעָה (_ra'ah_) here does not primarily denote moral evil on God's part, but rather calamity, disaster, or misfortune. It signifies that God, in His sovereign justice, would permit or orchestrate circumstances that would bring about severe, destructive consequences for David and his household. This is a divine judgment, a consequence of sin, rather than an act of moral depravity by God.
* **House (Hebrew, _bayit'_):** The term בַּיִת (_bayit_) refers not just to David's physical dwelling but, more broadly, to his household, family, and dynasty. The pronouncement "out of thine own house" emphasizes that the source of David's calamity would be internal, from within his closest familial relationships, making the judgment particularly poignant and inescapable. This contrasts with external threats and highlights the profound disruption within his own lineage.
* **In the sight of this sun (Hebrew, _le'einei ha'shemesh'_):** This powerful phrase, לְעֵינֵי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ (_le'einei ha'shemesh_), literally means "before the eyes of the sun" or "in the presence of the sun." It is a vivid idiom emphasizing the public, open, and undeniable nature of the impending humiliation. David's sin with Bathsheba was committed in secrecy; God's judgment would be carried out in the most public manner possible, under the full light of day, for all to witness, thereby contrasting and mirroring the original offense.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the LORD,"**: This opening phrase establishes the divine authority and certainty of the pronouncement. Nathan is not speaking his own words but delivering a direct, unalterable message from God, underscoring the gravity and inevitability of the judgment.
* **"Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house,"**: This declares that God Himself is the orchestrator of the impending calamity, not as a moral agent of evil, but as a righteous judge. The "evil" (calamity/disaster) will originate from within David's own family, highlighting the internal breakdown and familial strife that will plague his dynasty as a direct consequence of his actions.
* **"and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour,"**: This specifies the nature of the "evil." God declares He will allow David's wives to be taken from him, and given to a "neighbor" (likely referring to someone close, a kinsman or a rival within his own house, ultimately fulfilled by Absalom). The phrase "before thine eyes" emphasizes David's helpless and humiliating witness to this public disgrace.
* **"and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun."**: This final clause describes the ultimate act of public humiliation and usurpation. The "neighbor" will publicly violate David's wives, an act that traditionally signified a claim to the throne. The phrase "in the sight of this sun" reiterates the extreme public nature of the act, contrasting starkly with David's secret sin and ensuring his utter disgrace before all Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent **literary devices**. Foremost is **Poetic Justice**, where the punishment precisely fits the crime: David's secret taking of another man's wife is met with the public taking of his own wives. This is amplified by **Irony**, as the very "house" from which David expected security and legacy becomes the source of his profound suffering. The entire declaration is a **Prophecy**, a divinely inspired foretelling of future events, which finds its chilling **Fulfillment** in Absalom's actions in [2 Samuel 16](/2_samuel/16 "2 Samuel 16 - Absalom's Rebellion"). The phrase "in the sight of this sun" serves as powerful **Symbolism**, where the sun represents not just daylight but the public arena, the witness of all Israel, and the undeniable truth of the judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 12:11 profoundly illustrates the biblical truth that while God is merciful and extends forgiveness to the repentant, sin carries severe and often public consequences. It underscores God's unwavering justice, demonstrating that even His chosen leaders are not exempt from accountability. This passage serves as a stark reminder that actions have ripple effects, impacting not only the individual but also their family, community, and future generations. The judgment described here is not arbitrary but a measured response, mirroring the nature of David's transgression and highlighting the sanctity of marriage and the gravity of abusing power.

* [Numbers 32:23](/numbers/32-23 "Numbers 32:23 - Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out") - "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
* [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom") - "Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping") - "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse compels us to confront the seriousness of sin and its far-reaching consequences, even when divine forgiveness has been granted. David's experience reminds us that while God's grace abounds, it does not always negate the earthly repercussions of our choices. It calls us to a deeper understanding of accountability, recognizing that our actions, especially those committed in secret or abuse of power, can bring profound pain and disruption to our families and communities. The public nature of David's judgment serves as a sober warning against presumption and a call to live with integrity, knowing that God sees all and His justice will ultimately prevail. It encourages us to take sin seriously, to pursue genuine repentance, and to understand that true freedom comes not from escaping consequences, but from walking in humble obedience to God's righteous standards.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's experience challenge our understanding of forgiveness and consequences?**
* **In what ways might our "secret sins" have public or familial repercussions we haven't considered?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the nature of God's justice and His sovereignty over all events?**
* **How can we apply the principle of "sowing and reaping" to our daily decisions and relationships?**

### FAQ
**Did God literally cause the "evil" or merely permit it?**

Answer: The Hebrew word _ra'ah_ (evil) in this context refers to calamity or disaster, not moral evil on God's part. God, in His sovereignty and justice, declared that He would "raise up" or bring about these calamitous circumstances. This does not mean God committed a moral wrong, but that He orchestrated or permitted events within David's own household to serve as a just consequence for David's sin. The fulfillment through Absalom's rebellion (see [2 Samuel 16:21-22](/2_samuel/16-21 "2 Samuel 16:21-22 - Absalom's Public Act")) shows how God uses human agents and their choices to bring about His purposes of judgment and discipline, without Himself being the author of their sin.

**Was David truly forgiven if these consequences still occurred?**

Answer: Yes, David was truly forgiven. Nathan explicitly states in [2 Samuel 12:13](/2_samuel/12-13 "2 Samuel 12:13 - David's Forgiveness") that "The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Forgiveness in the biblical sense means the removal of the ultimate penalty (death, eternal separation from God) and the restoration of relationship. However, forgiveness does not always negate the earthly, temporal consequences of sin. Just as a child forgiven for breaking a window might still have to pay for its repair, David's forgiveness did not exempt him from the painful, yet just, repercussions that affected his family and kingdom, serving as a powerful lesson for him and for all who witness God's justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Samuel 12:11 reveals the severe consequences of sin and God's righteous judgment, it ultimately points to the greater fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. David's experience highlights the inescapable nature of sin's penalty, a reality that every human being faces. Yet, in Christ, we see God's perfect justice and boundless mercy converge. Jesus, the true Son of David, did not have "evil" raised up against Him from His own house due to His sin, for He was sinless (see [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sinless High Priest")). Instead, He willingly bore the ultimate "evil" – the full weight of God's wrath against humanity's sin – on the cross (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). The public shame and humiliation David experienced in the "sight of this sun" were a pale shadow of the public crucifixion of Christ, who was exposed to the full gaze of humanity and heaven as He became sin for us (see [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin For Us")). Through His sacrifice, Christ absorbed the consequences of our sins, offering forgiveness and reconciliation that truly removes the eternal penalty, enabling us to stand righteous before God, a grace that David, in his time, could only anticipate.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 16:21

And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

2 Samuel 16:22

So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Deuteronomy 28:30

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

2 Samuel 15:6

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 13:1

¶ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Samuel 13:14

Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:28

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.