BibleWord.ai› Bible› 2 Samuel› Chapter 12› Verse 5

2 Samuel 12:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 12:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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:
2 Samuel 12:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;
3but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man`s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5And 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:
6and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8and I gave thee thy master`s house, and thy master`s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things.
← 2 Samuel 12:42 Samuel 12:6 →
← Full Chapter 12 2 Samuel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, etc.] That had done this, taking it for a real fact: and he said to Nathan, [as] the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this [thing] shall surely die; which be said in the transport of his wrath and fury; otherwise a thief, according to the law of Moses, was not to be put to death, but to make restitution; and if he was not able to make it, then to be sold, but he was not to die for it; but David thought the crime was so greatly aggravated by being done by a rich man, and by the loss the poor man sustained, it being his all, and the fact, in all its circumstances, so cruel and barbarous, that the guilty person ought to die: how much…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the man that hath done this thing shall surely die--This punishment was more severe than the case deserved, or than was warranted by the divine statute (Exo 22:1). The sympathies of the king had been deeply enlisted, his indignation aroused, but his conscience was still asleep; and at the time when he was most fatally indulgent to his own sins, he was most ready to condemn the delinquencies and errors of others.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Is worthy to die - This seems to be more than the fact deserved, or than he had commission to inflict for it, Exo 22:1. But it is observable, that David now when he was most indulgent to himself, and to his own sin, was most severe and even unjust to others; as appears by this passage, and the following relation, Sa2 12:31, which was done in the time of David's impenitent continuance in his sin. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 12:7”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:5-6 The rich man of the parable did not deserve to die according to the law; instead, he must repay four lambs (cp. Exod 22:1). Intriguingly, David would later lose four of his sons (Bathsheba’s first child, 2 Sam 12:18; Amnon, 13:29; Absalom, 18:14-15; Adonijah, 1 Kgs 2:25).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“David's: Gen 38:24; Sa1 25:21, Sa1 25:22; Luk 6:41, Luk 6:42, Luk 9:55; Rom 2:1 As the Lord: Sa1 14:39 shall surely die: or, is worthy to die, Heb. is a son of death, Sa1 20:31, Sa1 26:16 \*marg. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 12:6”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification