The Meaning of 2 Samuel 12:23 Explained

2 Samuel 12:23

KJV: But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

YLT: and now, he hath died, why is this -- I fast? am I able to bring him back again? I am going unto him, and he doth not turn back unto me.'

Darby: But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

ASV: But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But now he is dead,  wherefore should I fast?  can  I bring him back again?  I shall go  to him, but he shall not return  to me. 

What does 2 Samuel 12:23 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 12:15-31 - Accepting The Lord's Judgment
When Nathan had gone, David beat out his brief confession into Psalms 51:1-19. He knew that he was clean, because purged with hyssop, Exodus 12:22; that he was whiter than snow, because the hand of the Redeemer had touched him, and the joy of God's salvation had been restored. And now he bowed himself before the train of evil consequences that must ensue. Sin may be forgiven, but the Father must needs chasten his child.
The little babe died. It cuts us to the quick when innocent children suffer for our wrong-doing. Two years after, David's sin was repeated by one of his sons, while another sought to dispossess his father of the throne. In Amnon's offense David beheld the features of his own passion, and in Absalom's revenge, his own blood-guiltiness. Psalms 41:1-13; Psalms 55:1-23 are supposed to record his sufferings during those dreary years, when it seemed as if the sunshine had passed forever from his life. The wonder is that he treated Rabbah so harshly; but it may be, as some think, that its fate was decided during the months which preceded his confession, when the misery of his soul made him petulant and exacting.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 12

1  Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb causes David to be his own judge
7  David, reproved by Nathan, confesses his sin, and is pardoned
15  David mourns and prays for the child while it lives
24  Solomon is born, and named Jedidiah
26  David takes Rabbah, and tortures the people thereof

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 12:23 mean?

but now he is dead why [is] this [that] I should fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he not shall return to me
וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ מֵ֗ת לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ אֲנִ֣י ؟ צָ֔ם הַאוּכַ֥ל לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ ؟ ע֑וֹד אֲנִי֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ אֵלָ֔יו וְה֖וּא לֹֽא־ יָשׁ֥וּב אֵלָֽי

וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀  but  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
מֵ֗ת  he  is  dead 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
לָ֤מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
זֶּה֙  [is]  this  [that] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
؟ צָ֔ם  should  fast 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צוּם  
Sense: (Qal) to abstain from food, fast.
הַאוּכַ֥ל  can  I 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ  bring  him  back 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
؟ ע֑וֹד  again 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
הֹלֵ֣ךְ  shall  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
אֵלָ֔יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וְה֖וּא  but  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יָשׁ֥וּב  shall  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֵלָֽי  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).

What are the major concepts related to 2 Samuel 12:23?

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