2 Samuel 12:22

And 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?

And he said {H559}, While the child {H3206} was yet alive {H2416}, I fasted {H6684} and wept {H1058}: for I said {H559}, Who can tell {H3045} whether GOD {H3068} will be gracious {H2603}{H2603} to me, that the child {H3206} may live {H2416}?

He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; because I thought, 'Maybe ADONAI will show his grace to me and let the child live.'

David 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.’

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?

Commentary

In 2 Samuel 12:22, King David expresses his desperate hope and fervent prayer during a period of profound personal crisis. This verse follows the prophet Nathan's confrontation with David concerning his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband. God, through Nathan, had pronounced judgment, stating that the child born of this illicit union would die.

Context

The preceding chapters describe King David's grievous sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The prophet Nathan confronted David, delivering God's judgment, which included the death of the child born from this illicit union (2 Samuel 12:14). Despite this severe prophecy, David, in deep repentance and anguish, engages in intense fasting and weeping for seven days while the child is gravely ill. He lies on the ground, refusing food and comfort, clinging to the slim possibility that God might relent. This verse captures David's public explanation for his behavior, revealing his profound humility and understanding of divine sovereignty.

Key Themes

  • Desperate Intercession: David's actions—fasting, weeping, and lying prostrate—demonstrate a profound level of earnest prayer and intercession, even when the outcome seems predetermined. He pours out his soul to God, hoping for a change of heart from the Almighty.
  • Hope in God's Mercy: Despite the clear pronouncement of judgment, David clings to the hope that God, in His boundless compassion, might yet show mercy. His question, "Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me?" reveals a profound understanding of God's sovereignty and mercy, acknowledging that even in judgment, God retains the right to extend grace.
  • Acceptance of God's Will: David's subsequent actions in 2 Samuel 12:23 show his ultimate acceptance of God's sovereign will once the child dies. This verse highlights his belief that while there is life, there is a chance for God's grace, but once God's decision is final, it must be accepted.

Linguistic Insights

The key word in this verse is "gracious." The Hebrew word used here is chanan (חָנַן), which means to show favor, pity, or compassion. It implies an undeserved act of benevolence, stemming from the giver's kindness rather than the recipient's merit. David was not claiming a right but appealing to God's inherent character of mercy.

Practical Application

David's example in 2 Samuel 12:22 offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Power of Prayer: Even in dire circumstances, or when facing the consequences of our actions, we are called to bring our petitions before God. David's intense prayer reminds us to persist in asking, even when outcomes seem uncertain or unlikely.
  • Understanding God's Sovereignty: This verse underscores the importance of acknowledging God's ultimate control and right to act as He wills. While we pray earnestly, we must also submit to His wisdom and perfect plan, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours.
  • Hope in Grace: David's plea for grace, even after grievous sin, provides a powerful illustration of God's character. It teaches us that no matter our past, there is always an opportunity to approach God's throne of grace with humility and hope for His compassion.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 38:5 (5 votes)

    Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

  • Isaiah 38:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

  • Isaiah 38:3 (5 votes)

    And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

  • Jonah 3:9 (4 votes)

    Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

  • Jonah 3:10 (4 votes)

    And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

  • Joel 2:14 (3 votes)

    Who knoweth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

  • Jonah 1:6 (3 votes)

    So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.