2 Samuel 12:13

KJV

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

KJV (with Strong's)

And David {H1732} said {H559} unto Nathan {H5416}, I have sinned {H2398} against the LORD {H3068}. And Nathan {H5416} said {H559} unto David {H1732}, The LORD {H3068} also hath put away {H5674} thy sin {H2403}; thou shalt not die {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

David said to Natan, "I have sinned against ADONAI." Natan said to David, "ADONAI also has taken away your sin. You will not die.

Berean Standard Bible

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

American Standard Version

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This pivotal verse captures the profound moment of King David's confession and God's immediate declaration of forgiveness through the prophet Nathan. After months of hidden guilt following his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, David's simple yet powerful statement, "I have sinned against the LORD," elicits Nathan's authoritative pronouncement that the Lord has "put away" his sin, averting the immediate death penalty prescribed by the Mosaic Law. This exchange beautifully illustrates the tension between divine justice and boundless mercy, setting the stage for the complex consequences that would nonetheless follow David's actions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climax of a deeply troubling narrative arc in David's life. In the preceding chapter, [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba and Uriah"), David commits adultery with Bathsheba and then orchestrates the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to cover his sin. The narrative highlights David's attempts to conceal his transgression, culminating in Uriah's death on the battlefield. [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan Confronts David") opens with God sending the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan delivers a poignant parable about a rich man who unjustly takes a poor man's only lamb, skillfully drawing David into a judgment against himself. David's righteous indignation at the parable's injustice is immediately met with Nathan's damning indictment, "Thou art the man!" ([2 Samuel 12:7](/2_samuel/12-7 "2 Samuel 12:7 - Nathan's Indictment of David")). It is in the immediate aftermath of this direct confrontation and the pronouncement of divine judgment that David utters his confession in [2 Samuel 12:13](/2_samuel/12-13 "2 Samuel 12:13 - David's Confession and Forgiveness"). The verse then transitions directly into the specific consequences of David's sin, particularly the death of the child born to Bathsheba ([2 Samuel 12:14](/2_samuel/12-14 "2 Samuel 12:14 - The Child Shall Die")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David reigned as king over Israel, a position of immense power and responsibility, but also one under divine covenant. The Mosaic Law, given at Sinai, clearly stipulated the death penalty for both adultery ([Leviticus 20:10](/leviticus/20-10 "Leviticus 20:10 - Punishment for Adultery")) and murder ([Exodus 21:12](/exodus/21-12 "Exodus 21:12 - Punishment for Murder")). As king, David was not above this law; in fact, his position made his transgression even more egregious, as it was a betrayal of trust and a defilement of the covenant. Prophets like Nathan served as God's direct spokesmen, holding even kings accountable to divine standards. Their role was crucial in a theocratic monarchy, ensuring that God's will and law remained supreme. The cultural understanding of sin was not merely a personal failing but an offense against the community and, ultimately, against God, carrying both spiritual and societal ramifications. The concept of "putting away sin" would have been understood in the context of ritual cleansing and divine pardon, though here it is a direct act of God's sovereign mercy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several core biblical themes. Foremost is the theme of **sin and its pervasive nature**, demonstrating how even a "man after God's own heart" could fall into grievous transgression. It highlights the **necessity and nature of genuine repentance**, showing that true confession involves acknowledging sin as primarily against God, not merely against others ([Psalm 51:4](/psalms/51-4 "Psalm 51:4 - Against You Only Have I Sinned")). The verse also underscores **God's immediate and abundant mercy and forgiveness** for the truly contrite heart, even in the face of heinous sin. Simultaneously, it introduces the crucial theme that **divine forgiveness does not always negate earthly consequences**, as the subsequent verses in [2 Samuel 12](/2_samuel/12 "2 Samuel 12 - Nathan Confronts David") immediately detail the severe repercussions that would plague David's household. This tension between mercy and consequence reflects God's **justice and faithfulness** to His word, even as He extends grace.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sinned (Hebrew, חָטָא _chata'_):** This verb literally means "to miss the mark" or "to go astray." In a theological context, it signifies an offense against God, a failure to meet His righteous standard, or a transgression of His law. David's use of "against the LORD" emphasizes that his actions, though harming Bathsheba and Uriah, were ultimately a direct affront to God's holiness and His covenant. It's a confession of spiritual rebellion, not just social misconduct.
* **put away (Hebrew, עָבַר _'avar'_):** This verb means "to pass over," "to remove," or "to take away." In this context, it signifies a divine act of removing the judicial guilt that would have warranted David's immediate execution under the Mosaic Law for adultery and murder. It's a declaration of divine pardon and the lifting of the death sentence, emphasizing that God actively takes away the sin's power to condemn unto immediate physical death. It implies a complete, decisive act of God's sovereign will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD."**: This is a remarkably concise and direct confession. Unlike King Saul, who often offered excuses or blamed others, David's statement is devoid of qualification or self-justification. The crucial phrase "against the LORD" indicates a profound understanding that his actions, though impacting Uriah and Bathsheba severely, were fundamentally an offense against the holy God who had established the law and placed David in his position. It signifies true brokenness and an acknowledgment of ultimate accountability.
* **"And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin;"**: Nathan's response is immediate and authoritative, delivered as God's messenger. The phrase "The LORD also" underscores that this is a divine action, not merely a human pardon. "Hath put away thy sin" signifies a complete removal of the guilt that would have brought the immediate, Mosaic death penalty. It is a declaration of divine forgiveness, a sovereign act of mercy that overrides the immediate legal consequence of death.
* **"thou shalt not die."**: This declaration is the immediate, tangible result of God's forgiveness in this specific context. It means David will not suffer the capital punishment prescribed by the Law for his crimes. However, as the subsequent verses make clear, this reprieve from immediate death does not mean an absence of all consequences, but rather a different, disciplinary form of divine justice that would unfold in David's life and household.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader knows the full extent of David's sin while David himself is confronted with it through Nathan's parable. The **Juxtaposition** of David's simple confession ("I have sinned") with Nathan's profound declaration ("The LORD... hath put away thy sin") highlights the immediate and transformative power of divine grace. The **Speech Act** of David's confession is direct and unadorned, emphasizing his humility and genuine repentance, contrasting sharply with his earlier attempts at deception. Nathan's response functions as a **Divine Declaration**, an authoritative pronouncement from God Himself, underscoring the weight and truth of the forgiveness offered. The phrase "thou shalt not die" serves as a powerful instance of **Foreshadowing**, as while David is spared immediate physical death, the very next verse reveals that the child born of his sin will die, illustrating that forgiveness does not always negate the painful consequences of sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 12:13 stands as a foundational text for understanding the nature of sin, repentance, and divine forgiveness. It reveals that sin, at its core, is an offense against God's holiness and His sovereign rule, regardless of its impact on human relationships. David's confession models true repentance: a humble, unreserved acknowledgment of guilt directed primarily towards God. In response, God demonstrates His boundless mercy, immediately extending forgiveness and averting the most severe penalty. This passage thus beautifully balances God's unwavering justice, which demands accountability for sin, with His profound compassion, which offers pardon to the contrite heart. It sets a precedent for God's character as one who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" ([Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - The Lord's Compassion and Justice")), even while not leaving the guilty unpunished in other ways.

* [Psalm 51:4](/psalms/51-4 "Psalm 51:4 - Against You Only Have I Sinned")
* [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")
* [Isaiah 43:25](/isaiah/43-25 "Isaiah 43:25 - God Forgives for His Own Sake")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound exchange between David and Nathan offers timeless lessons for every believer. It teaches us that no sin, no matter how heinous or deeply hidden, is beyond the reach of God's forgiveness, provided there is genuine repentance and confession. David's simple yet direct "I have sinned against the LORD" serves as a powerful model for our own confessions, reminding us that true repentance involves acknowledging our transgressions as ultimately against a holy God. While God's mercy is immediate for the truly repentant heart, this passage also soberly reminds us that forgiveness does not always negate the natural or even divinely ordained consequences of our actions in this life. We are called to live in the tension of God's grace and His justice, understanding that while our sin is pardoned, its ripple effects may still be felt. This understanding should cultivate both a profound gratitude for God's mercy and a serious resolve to walk in obedience, avoiding presumptuous sin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does David's simple confession, "I have sinned against the LORD," teach us about the nature of true repentance?**
* **How does this passage demonstrate both God's immediate mercy and the reality that forgiveness does not always remove all consequences?**
* **In what ways might we, like David, attempt to hide our sins, and what are the spiritual dangers of doing so?**
* **How can understanding God's character as both just and merciful deepen our trust and obedience?**

### FAQ

**Did David "get away with" murder and adultery?**

Answer: No, David did not "get away with" his sins in the sense of escaping all consequences. While God, in His mercy, immediately "put away" David's sin, averting the immediate death penalty prescribed by the Mosaic Law for adultery and murder, the narrative makes it abundantly clear that severe consequences followed. Nathan immediately pronounces that "the sword shall never depart from your house" and that calamity would arise from David's own household ([2 Samuel 12:10-11](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10-11 - Consequences for David's House")). Most immediately, the child born of David and Bathsheba's union died ([2 Samuel 12:14](/2_samuel/12-14 "2 Samuel 12:14 - The Child Shall Die")). Later events in David's life, such as Amnon's rape of Tamar, Absalom's rebellion, and the subsequent civil war, are directly linked to these pronouncements. God's justice was served, but tempered with mercy, demonstrating that while He forgives the repentant heart, the natural and divine consequences of sin often remain to teach, discipline, and uphold His righteous order.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The declaration in [2 Samuel 12:13](/2_samuel/12-13 "2 Samuel 12:13 - David's Confession and Forgiveness") that "The LORD also hath put away thy sin" profoundly foreshadows the ultimate and perfect "putting away" of sin accomplished through Jesus Christ. David's forgiveness, though real, was provisional and incomplete, requiring ongoing sacrifices and still resulting in severe temporal consequences. It pointed to a greater need for a definitive solution to the problem of sin. Christ, as the perfect [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), fully bore the wages of sin, which is death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin is Death")), on the cross. His atoning sacrifice did not merely "pass over" sin but truly "put it away" by fully satisfying divine justice, making a way for complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Unlike David, whose sin still brought earthly judgment, Christ's work ensures that for those who believe, there is no condemnation ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")), and their sins are not merely "put away" but are remembered no more ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - I will remember their sins no more")). David's experience thus serves as a powerful Old Testament illustration of God's grace, pointing forward to the infinitely greater grace and complete redemption found in the person and work of Jesus, who truly takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

2 Samuel 24:10

¶ And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Proverbs 28:13

¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

Zechariah 3:4

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Luke 15:21

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

1 Samuel 15:30

Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

Micah 7:18

Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.