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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

2 Samuel 12:13

I have sinned. — The same words were used by Saul (1 Samuel 15:24; 1 Samuel 15:30), but in a totally different spirit. Saul’s confession was a concession to the prophet for the purpose of securing his support, and with no real penitence; David, in these few words, pours out before God the confession of a broken heart.

Thou shalt not die. — David had committed two crimes for which the Law imposed the penalty of death — adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and murder (Leviticus 24:17). As an absolute monarch he had no reason to fear that the sentence would be put in force by any human authority; and the Divine word is to him of far more importance as an assurance of forgiveness than as a warding off of any possible earthly danger. The phrase is thus parallel to, and explanatory of, the previous clause, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin.”

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See also 2 Samuel 12:13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Samuel 12:13. _THE LORD - HATH PUT AWAY THY SIN_] Many have supposed that David's sin was _now actually pardoned_, but this is perfectly erroneous; David, as an adulterer, was _condemned to d...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    For a comment on David’s words, read Psalms 51; Psalms 32:1. THOU SHALT NOT DIE - Not spoken of the punishment of death as affixed to adultery by the Mosaic Law: the application of that law...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. THE MESSAGE OF GOD AND DAVID'S CONFESSION AND THE BEGINNING OF THE CHASTISEMENT CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The Lord's message through Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1)_ 2. David's anger (2 Samuel 12:5) 3. Thou art t...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 SAMUEL 12. DAVID'S REPENTANCE. CAPTURE OF RABBAH (J). The section concerning Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1_ a_) is sometimes regarded as a later addition by some one who was anxious to point out and emphasi...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    I HAVE SINNED. Psalms 51 is the expansion of this. SINNED... SIN. Hebrew. _chata'._ App-44. HATH PUT AWAY. Divine forgiveness instantly follows the sinner's confession (1 John 1:9). Compare Job 42:6;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Prophet's sentence. David's confession 7. _Thou_art _the man_ The consciousness that they were God's messengers inspired the prophets with fearless courage. Samuel rebuked Saul for his disobedien...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I have sinned against the_Lord] True confession needs but few words. Cp. Luke 18:13. There is no attempt to excuse or palliate the sin. Saul too could say "I have sinned" (1 Samuel 15:24; 1 Samuel 15...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 317 DAVID’S HUMILIATION AND ACCEPTANCE 2 Samuel 12:13. _And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou sh...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    DAVID SAID—I HAVE SINNED— No sooner was the application of the parable made by Nathan, but David owns his offence; and the Psalms he penned on this occasion, shew the deep sense he had of the guilt he...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _God's Judgment._ 2 Samuel 12:7-23 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou _art_ the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _FOR THOU DIDST IT SECRETLY: BUT I WILL DO THIS THING BEFORE ALL ISRAEL, AND BEFORE THE SUN._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID'S REPENTANCE AND PARDON. THE CAPTURE OF RABBAH 4. To dress for the wayfaring man] We may notice Eastern ideas of hospitality: cp. Genesis 18:3....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THOU SHALT NOT DIE] This was the punishment David himself had pronounced on the offender....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 12 NATHAN’S MESSAGE TO DAVID V1 The *Lord sent Nathan to David. Nathan went to David and he said, ‘Two men lived in a city. One ma...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל ־נָתָ֔ן חָטָ֖אתִי לַֽ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XVI. _ PENITENCE AND CHASTISEMENT._ 2 Samuel 12:13. WHEN Nathan ended his message, plainly and strongly though he had spoken, David indicated no irritation, made no complaint against the pro...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THOU ART THE MAN 2 Samuel 12:1 A year followed on his sin, but David gave no sign. He describes his condition during that awful time in Psalms 32:3. Conscience scourged him incessantly, but he did no...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    A year passed away. The child of Bathsheba was born. We can imagine what that year had been to David. Bathsheba, whom in all probability he truly loved, was with him as his wife; but it is inevitable...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath (g) put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (g) For the Lord seeks the sinner to turn to him....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Sinned. His confession was sincere, and very different from that of Saul, 1 Kings xv. 24. "The expression was the same; but God saw the difference of the heart." (St. Augustine, contra Faust. xxii. 27...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (13) And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Reader! observe how quick and immediate are the L...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the sorrowful circumstances out of which arose the first desire to have a king in Israel, and the remarkable fact that, although it was a sin, God nevertheless did not put the people back...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 11, 12, AND 13. The history of David and the wife of Uriah follows. David is no longer acting by faith in God's service. When the time comes at which kings go...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID UNTO NATHAN, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD,.... Which confession, though short, was a full one, arising from a thorough conviction of the evil of the sin he had been guilty of, accompa...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Ver. 13. _I have sinned against the Lord._] He saith n...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _David said, I have sinned against the Lord_ Overwhelmed with shame, stung with remorse, and oppressed with a dreadful sense of the divine vengeance, impending, and ready to fall upon himself and his...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Nathans parable of the Ewe lambe, causeth Dauid to be his owne Iudge. 7 Dauid, reproued by Nathan, confesseth his sinne and is pardoned. 15 Dauid mourneth and prayeth for the childe, while it liue...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And David said unto Nathan, in full acknowledgment of his sin, without the slightest attempt at excusing himself or depreciating the sin, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD, His confession is given in onl...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Nathan's Reproof and its Success...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    David did not immediately confess his sin to God, andPsalms 32:3 shows that the Lord waited for some time at least before sending the prophet Nathan to him, likely over nine months, for a son had been...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-14 God will not suffer his people to lie still in sin. By this parable Nathan drew from David a sentence against himself. Great need there is of prudence in giving reproofs. In his application, he...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD; I now freely confess that sin which I have hitherto so wickedly smothered; and I have deserved all these and far heavier judgments for it; and I am more troubled for my...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Samuel 12:13 David H1732 said H559 (H8799) Nathan H5416 sinned H2398 (H8804) LORD H3068 Nathan H5416 said...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    SINNED Here read (Psalms 51:1)....

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Samuel 12:13 The David of the Old Testament and the Peter of the New were alike keen, impetuous, high-wrought. Each falls in his strong point, because the strength of the good is necessarily the st...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Samuel 12:13 I. When we read the history of David's fall, what surprises and perhaps somewhat perplexes us at the first is the apparent suddenness of it. There seems no preparation, no warning. But...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David's rebuke and repentance. Birth of Solomon. Ammonite victory. CHARACTERS: God, David, Nathan, Bathsheba, Joab. CONCLUSION: If the believer, brought face to face with his sins sincerel...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Samuel 12:1. _The Lord sent Nathan to David._ The substance of the mission, the visitations he foretold, the perfect accomplishment of them, as well from that very day as in future ages, leaves not...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord._ THE REPENTANCE OF DAVID If we wish to draw any lessons from the repentance of any one, it is a great assistance to us to know something...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And the Lord sent Nathan unto David._ NATHAN REPROVING DAVID I. David’s sin. David, it appears, to avenge the outrage which bad been perpetrated on his ambassadors by Hanun, the king of the Ammonite...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 12:1 Through the prophet NATHAN, God calls David to account for his sins of adultery and murder (ch. 2 Samuel 11:1)....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 12:7 David has DESPISED the Lord and his word. ⇐ ⇔

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 12:13 David confesses his sin with Bathsheba and appears to repent. Yet the results of his actions remain: THE CHILD... SHALL DIE....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES 2 Samuel 12:3. “WAS UNTO HIM,” etc. “The custom of keeping pet sheep in the house, as we keep lap-dogs, is still met with among the Arabs.” (_Keil_.) “As a poor man he...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 12:1 JEHOVAH SENT NATHAN UNTO DAVID. Though David had remained unrepentant for nearly a year, for we read in 2 Samuel 12:14 that the child was born, yet we are not to suppose that...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    David thought that things were just going great until the prophet Nathan came to him. Nathan said to David, There is a man in your kingdom who is very wealthy, had many herds, many flocks many servant...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1; 1 Kings 13:4;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I have sinned — How serious this confession was, we may see, Psalms 51:1. Put away thy sin — That is, so far as concerns thy own life. Not die — As by thy own sentence, 2 Samuel 12:5, thou dost deserv...

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