2 samuel 12:3 - but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.
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What does "2 samuel 12:3" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 12:3 is part of a parable that the prophet Nathan tells King David. It's a powerful illustration designed to highlight David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The verse itself is carefully crafted to evoke empathy and shock:
"but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb...": This emphasizes the man's poverty. He had very little to begin with, just one precious thing.
"...which he had bought and raised.": This shows that the lamb wasn't just a random animal; he invested in it.
"It grew up together with him, and with his children.": The lamb was part of the family. It wasn't just livestock; it was a beloved member of the household.
"It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup...": This further emphasizes the lamb's intimate connection with the family. It shared their resources and lived as they did.
"...and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.": This is the most emotionally charged phrase. It makes it clear that the lamb wasn't just a pet; it was deeply loved and cherished. The phrase "like a daughter" gives it a human dimension, making its loss even more poignant.
In summary, this verse depicts a situation of great tenderness and deep emotional connection between a poor man and his only possession, a lamb that he raised as part of his family. This is meant to make David, and the reader, feel the injustice when, in the next part of the parable, a rich man steals and slaughters the lamb.
The deeper meaning within the context of the parable is:
The poor man represents Uriah the Hittite. He had very little, but he did have his wife, Bathsheba, who was precious to him.
The ewe lamb represents Bathsheba. She was Uriah's one cherished possession, "like a daughter" in the sense that she was the center of his life and family.
The rich man represents King David. He had everything he could possibly want, yet he took what belonged to Uriah.
By presenting the situation in this way, Nathan forces David to confront the severity of his actions. He understands the injustice done to the poor man and implicitly acknowledges the injustice he himself committed against Uriah. This leads to David's repentance.
2 samuel 12:3 - but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.
What does "2 samuel 12:3" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 12:3 is part of a parable that the prophet Nathan tells King David. It's a powerful illustration designed to highlight David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The verse itself is carefully crafted to evoke empathy and shock:
"but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb...": This emphasizes the man's poverty. He had very little to begin with, just one precious thing.
"...which he had bought and raised.": This shows that the lamb wasn't just a random animal; he invested in it.
"It grew up together with him, and with his children.": The lamb was part of the family. It wasn't just livestock; it was a beloved member of the household.
"It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup...": This further emphasizes the lamb's intimate connection with the family. It shared their resources and lived as they did.
"...and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.": This is the most emotionally charged phrase. It makes it clear that the lamb wasn't just a pet; it was deeply loved and cherished. The phrase "like a daughter" gives it a human dimension, making its loss even more poignant.
In summary, this verse depicts a situation of great tenderness and deep emotional connection between a poor man and his only possession, a lamb that he raised as part of his family. This is meant to make David, and the reader, feel the injustice when, in the next part of the parable, a rich man steals and slaughters the lamb.
The deeper meaning within the context of the parable is:
The poor man represents Uriah the Hittite. He had very little, but he did have his wife, Bathsheba, who was precious to him.
The ewe lamb represents Bathsheba. She was Uriah's one cherished possession, "like a daughter" in the sense that she was the center of his life and family.
The rich man represents King David. He had everything he could possibly want, yet he took what belonged to Uriah.
By presenting the situation in this way, Nathan forces David to confront the severity of his actions. He understands the injustice done to the poor man and implicitly acknowledges the injustice he himself committed against Uriah. This leads to David's repentance.