2 Samuel 12:22
20 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.
21 “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”
David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
- KJV
- 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?
- WEB
- He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
- ASV
- And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
- DARBY
- And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows? [perhaps] Jehovah will be gracious to me, that the child may live.
- BLB
- And he said, “While the child was alive I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows that YHWH may be gracious, and the child may live?’
- ÅB
- Han svarte: Så lenge barnet var i live, fastet jeg og gråt; for jeg tenkte: Hvem vet om ikke Herren forbarmer seg over meg, så barnet blir i live?
- OTB
- Han sa, "Mens barnet ennå levde, fastet og gråt jeg; for jeg tenkte, 'Hvem vet, Herren kan være nådig mot meg, og barnet kan leve.'
- B1930
- Han svarte: Så lenge barnet var i live, fastet jeg og gråt; for jeg tenkte: Hvem vet om ikke Herren forbarmer sig over mig, så barnet blir i live?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 38:5
“Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
Read in contextIsaiah 38:1–3
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”
Read in contextJonah 3:9–10
Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Read in contextJoel 1:14
Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Read in contextJonah 1:6
The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
Read in contextJoel 2:14
Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
Read in contextJames 4:9–10
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
Read in contextAmos 5:15
Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
Read in context