2 Samuel 12:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD sends the prophet Nathan to confront David, who begins with a parable about a rich man and a poor man.
What Does 2 Samuel 12:1 Mean?
David had taken Bathsheba and arranged Uriah's death, and the previous chapter ended with the words, the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. Now God acts. He does not strike from heaven; He sends a man. Nathan opens not with accusation but with a story about two neighbors in one city.
God's first move toward a sinner is mercy: He sends a word before He sends judgment. The parable will let David hear the truth about himself before he knows it is about himself. It is a tender severity, the same patience that still seeks the wandering and lays the truth gently in our path so that conscience can awaken.
2 Samuel 12:1 in the Original Language
nabi (נָבִיא), 'prophet' -- one called to speak God's word, here sent to a king who would not be told no by any man.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 12:1
What does 2 Samuel 12:1 mean?
The LORD sends the prophet Nathan to confront David, who begins with a parable about a rich man and a poor man.