2 Samuel 12:16

Prayer Grief Fasting Parents and children

¹⁴ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

¹⁵ And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

¹⁷ And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

¹⁸ And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
KJV: David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
WEB: David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.
ASV: David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
DARBY: And David besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.
BLB: And David pleaded with God for the child, and David kept a fast, and he came in and spent the night and laid down [in sackcloth] on the ground.

ÅB: Og David søkte Gud for barnets skyld, og David fastet strengt, og hver gang han gikk inn, ble han liggende på jorden hele natten.
OTB: David ba derfor til Gud for barnet; og David fastet og gikk og lå på jorden hele natten.
B1930: Og David søkte Gud for barnets skyld, og David fastet strengt, og hver gang han gikk inn, blev han liggende på jorden hele natten.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 13:31
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Read in context
Jonah 3:9
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Read in context
Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Read in context
1 Kings 21:27
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Read in context
2 Samuel 12:22
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
Read in context
Isaiah 22:12
And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
Read in context
Acts 9:9
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Read in context
Psalms 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Read in context