2 samuel 12:22 - He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 samuel 12:22" mean?
This verse comes from the story of King David and Bathsheba. They had a child conceived out of adultery, and as punishment, God made the child very ill. David, deeply grieved, pleaded with God to spare the child's life. Let's break down the verse:
"He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept...": This describes David's actions while the child was still sick. He engaged in fervent prayer and mourning, expressed through fasting (abstaining from food) and weeping (crying intensely). These were traditional ways to show deep sorrow and repentance in ancient Israel.
"...for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’": This reveals David's motivation. He didn't know for sure if God would heal the child, but he clung to the hope that God might be merciful and spare the child's life. The phrase "Who knows?" is a rhetorical question expressing a sliver of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. He acknowledged God's power and sovereignty and hoped God would choose to be compassionate.
In essence, the verse shows:
David's deep remorse: He understood that the child's illness was a consequence of his sin.
David's desperation: He was willing to do anything to save his child's life.
David's belief in God's power and potential mercy: Even though he knew he deserved punishment, he hoped God might choose to be gracious. He acknowledged that the outcome was ultimately in God's hands.
A human response to tragedy: It illustrates a common human reaction to tragedy: the desperate hope that even in the face of likely loss, divine intervention might change the outcome.
Ultimately, in the story, the child dies. David's servants are afraid to tell him, fearing his reaction. However, when David sees them whispering, he realizes the child is dead. He then gets up, washes, anoints himself, worships, and eats, surprising his servants. This shows his acceptance of God's will, even though he had desperately hoped for a different outcome. After the child dies, David turns to God and recovers.
2 samuel 12:22 - He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
What does "2 samuel 12:22" mean?
This verse comes from the story of King David and Bathsheba. They had a child conceived out of adultery, and as punishment, God made the child very ill. David, deeply grieved, pleaded with God to spare the child's life. Let's break down the verse:
"He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept...": This describes David's actions while the child was still sick. He engaged in fervent prayer and mourning, expressed through fasting (abstaining from food) and weeping (crying intensely). These were traditional ways to show deep sorrow and repentance in ancient Israel.
"...for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’": This reveals David's motivation. He didn't know for sure if God would heal the child, but he clung to the hope that God might be merciful and spare the child's life. The phrase "Who knows?" is a rhetorical question expressing a sliver of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. He acknowledged God's power and sovereignty and hoped God would choose to be compassionate.
In essence, the verse shows:
David's deep remorse: He understood that the child's illness was a consequence of his sin.
David's desperation: He was willing to do anything to save his child's life.
David's belief in God's power and potential mercy: Even though he knew he deserved punishment, he hoped God might choose to be gracious. He acknowledged that the outcome was ultimately in God's hands.
A human response to tragedy: It illustrates a common human reaction to tragedy: the desperate hope that even in the face of likely loss, divine intervention might change the outcome.
Ultimately, in the story, the child dies. David's servants are afraid to tell him, fearing his reaction. However, when David sees them whispering, he realizes the child is dead. He then gets up, washes, anoints himself, worships, and eats, surprising his servants. This shows his acceptance of God's will, even though he had desperately hoped for a different outcome. After the child dies, David turns to God and recovers.