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2 Samuel 12:4

Justice

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

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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
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.”
KJV
And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
WEB
A traveler came to the rich man, and he didn’t want to take of his own flock and of his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
ASV
And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man`s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
DARBY
And there came a traveller to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that had come to him; and he took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.
BLB
And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him. And he took the ewe lamb of the poor man and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
ÅB
Så kom det en veifarende mann til den rike; men han nente ikke å ta noe av sitt småfe eller storfe og lage det til for den reisende som var kommet til ham, men tok den fattige manns lam og laget det til for den mann som var kommet til ham.
OTB
Nå kom det en besøkende til den rike mannen, og han kunne ikke få seg til å ta noe dyr fra sin egen flokk eller hjord for å tilberede for den reisende som hadde kommet til ham; så han tok den fattige mannens lam og tilberedte det for mannen som hadde kommet til ham."
B1930
Så kom det en veifarende mann til den rike; men han nente ikke å ta noget av sitt småfe eller storfe og lage det til for den reisende som var kommet til ham, men tok den fattige manns lam og laget det til for den mann som var kommet til ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • James 1:14

    But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 11:3–4

    And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

    Read in context

  • Genesis 18:2–7

    And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

    Read in context