2 Samuel 12:5

And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, [As] the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this [thing] shall surely die:

And David's {H1732} anger {H639} was greatly {H3966} kindled {H2734} against the man {H376}; and he said {H559} to Nathan {H5416}, As the LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}, the man {H376} that hath done {H6213} this thing shall surely {H1121} die {H4194}:

David exploded with anger against the man and said to Natan, "As ADONAI lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die:

Commentary

Context of 2 Samuel 12:5

This verse captures King David's fiery reaction to a parable told by the prophet Nathan. Nathan, sent by God, had just related a story (found in 2 Samuel 12:1-4) about a wealthy man who, despite having many flocks, took the single beloved lamb of a poor neighbor to feed a guest. David, still unaware that the parable is a direct indictment of his own recent actions with Bathsheba and Uriah, is deeply offended by the injustice described. His strong indignation here sets the stage for Nathan's powerful revelation, "Thou art the man" (2 Samuel 12:7).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Righteous Indignation and Blindness: David's anger is genuine and righteous concerning the injustice in Nathan's story. However, it highlights a profound spiritual blindness to his own far greater sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. This illustrates the human tendency to see faults in others more clearly than in oneself.
  • Justice and Judgment: David's declaration that "the man that hath done this [thing] shall surely die" reflects his understanding of severe justice, perhaps exceeding the Mosaic law's penalty for simple theft but aligning with the gravity of the spiritual and moral implications of such a cruel act. It underscores the high value placed on human life and property in ancient Israelite society.
  • Divine Confrontation: This verse is a pivotal moment in God's confrontation with David. God uses Nathan's wisdom and the power of a parable to expose sin and call for repentance, demonstrating His commitment to justice even for His chosen king.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "As the LORD liveth" (Hebrew: Chai Yahweh) is a solemn and emphatic oath common in the Old Testament. It signifies the speaker's absolute certainty and conviction, invoking God's very existence as a guarantee of the truth of their statement or the firmness of their resolve. David's use of this oath here underscores the depth of his outrage and his unwavering determination that justice be served for the man in the parable.

Practical Application

2 Samuel 12:5 offers timeless lessons for believers:

  • Self-Examination: David's reaction serves as a powerful reminder to regularly examine our own hearts and actions. It's easy to condemn the sins of others while remaining blind to our own significant failings. As Jesus taught, we should "first cast out the beam out of thine own eye" (Matthew 7:5).
  • The Nature of Sin: Sin often dulls our spiritual senses, making us less aware of our own transgressions even as we remain sensitive to the wrongs of others.
  • God's Mercy and Justice: While David's judgment was harsh, it foreshadowed the divine judgment that would fall upon his house, yet also paved the way for his profound repentance, famously expressed in Psalm 51. God's justice is always tempered with an opportunity for confession and forgiveness.
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

  • Luke 6:41

    And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

  • Luke 6:42

    Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

  • Genesis 38:24

    ¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

  • 1 Samuel 26:16

    This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.

  • Romans 2:1

    ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

  • Luke 9:55

    But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

  • 1 Samuel 25:21

    Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
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