2 Samuel 12:3 Meaning and Explanation
“But 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 meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The poor man owns only one little ewe lamb, cherished like a child of his own household.
What Does 2 Samuel 12:3 Mean?
Against the rich man's plenty stands the poor man's single lamb. Nathan lingers over it: bought, raised, sharing the man's food and cup, sleeping in his arms, loved as a daughter. The tenderness is deliberate, drawing the listener's heart toward the lamb and its owner.
Here is the worth of one small thing dearly loved. God sees what the powerful overlook, the cherished and the vulnerable. The picture also stirs a deeper memory: the Shepherd who carries the lamb in His bosom, who counts the lowly precious. To despise what is small and beloved is to offend the One who treasures it.
2 Samuel 12:3 in the Original Language
kibsah (כִּבְשָׂה), 'ewe lamb' -- a young female sheep, here so dear it is called a daughter.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 12:3
What does 2 Samuel 12:3 mean?
The poor man owns only one little ewe lamb, cherished like a child of his own household.