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2 Samuel 12:2

Justice

1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle,

3 but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him.

4 Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle,
KJV
The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
WEB
The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
ASV
The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;
DARBY
The rich had very many flocks and herds;
BLB
The rich one had flocks and herds exceedingly many.
ÅB
Den rike hadde småfe og storfe i mengdevis;
OTB
Den rike mannen hadde mange flokker og hjorder.
B1930
Den rike hadde småfe og storfe i mengdevis;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 12:8

    I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 3:2–5

    And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

    Read in context

  • Job 1:3

    and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 5:13–16

    After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 15:16

    Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

    Read in context