2 Samuel 12:20

Praise and worship Grief Faith Death and loss

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?

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

²¹ Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

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?

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

Compare

BSB: Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
KJV: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
WEB: Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the LORD’s house, and worshiped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.
ASV: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
DARBY: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and entered into the house of Jehovah and worshipped; then he came to his own house and required them to set bread before him, and he ate.
BLB: And David arose from the ground, and he washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes, and he went into the house of YHWH and worshiped. And he went to his own house, and he requested, and they set before him food, and he ate.

ÅB: Da sto David opp fra jorden og vasket seg og salvet seg og skiftet klær og gikk inn i Herrens hus og tilba. Så gikk han hjem igjen og ba om mat, og de satte mat fram for ham, og han spiste.
OTB: Så reiste David seg fra jorden, vasket seg, salvet seg, og skiftet klær; og han kom inn i Herrens hus og tilbad. Så kom han til sitt eget hus, og da han ba om det, serverte de ham mat og han spiste.
B1930: Da stod David op fra jorden og tvettet sig og salvet sig og skiftet klær og gikk inn i Herrens hus og tilbad. Så gikk han hjem igjen og bad om mat, og de satte mat frem for ham, og han åt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Read in context
Ruth 3:3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
Read in context
Lamentations 3:39–41
Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Read in context
Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Read in context
2 Samuel 7:18
Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
Read in context
Matthew 6:17
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Read in context
2 Samuel 6:17
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Read in context