The Meaning of 2 Samuel 12:22 Explained

2 Samuel 12:22

KJV: 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?

YLT: And he saith, 'While the lad is alive I have fasted, and weep, for I said, Who knoweth? -- Jehovah doth pity me, and the lad hath lived;

Darby: And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows? perhaps Jehovah will be gracious to me, that the child may live.

ASV: 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?

Discover 2 Samuel 12:22

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 2 Samuel 12:22?

MEANING: What does 2 Samuel 12:22 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 12:22 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 2 Samuel 12:22?

What is the context of 2 Samuel 12:22?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious {08675;02603:08762} to me, that the child may live?

What does 2 Samuel 12:22 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 12:22 mean?

And he said while was the child alive I fasted and wept for I said who can tell [whether] - will be gracious to me Yahweh that may live the child

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בְּעוֹד֙ הַיֶּ֣לֶד חַ֔י צַ֖מְתִּי וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֑ה כִּ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ מִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ [יחנני] (וְחַנַּ֥נִי) יְהוָ֖ה וְחַ֥י ؟ הַיָּֽלֶד

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר	And he said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְּעוֹד֙	while was
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb Root: עֹוד Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
הַיֶּ֣לֶד	the child
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: יֶלֶד Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
חַ֔י	alive
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular Root: חַי Sense: living, alive.
צַ֖מְתִּי	I fasted
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: צוּם Sense: (Qal) to abstain from food, fast.
וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֑ה	and wept
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular Root: בָּכָה Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙	I said
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יוֹדֵ֔עַ	can tell [whether]
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular Root: דָּעָה Sense: to know.
[יחנני]	-
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
(וְחַנַּ֥נִי)	will be gracious to me
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular Root: חָנַן Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
יְהוָ֖ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְחַ֥י	that may live
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular Root: חַי Sense: living, alive.
؟ הַיָּֽלֶד	the child
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: יֶלֶד Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Samuel 12:22?

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Similar Scriptures for 2 Samuel 12:22

		Isaiah 38:1-3 [4]
		Isaiah 38:5 [3]
		James 4:9-10 [2]
		Joel 1:14 [2]
		Jonah 3:9-10 [2]
		Joel 2:14 [2]
		Amos 5:15 [2]
		Jonah 1:6 [2]