2 Samuel 12:12
New International Version
You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

New Living Translation
You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”

English Standard Version
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

Berean Standard Bible
You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

King James Bible
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

New King James Version
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Indeed, you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and in open daylight.’”

NASB 1995
‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”

NASB 1977
‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”

Amplified Bible
Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’”

Christian Standard Bible
You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’”

American Standard Version
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

Contemporary English Version
What you did was in secret, but I will do this in the open for everyone in Israel to see."

English Revised Version
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You did this secretly, but I will make this happen in broad daylight in front of all Israel."

Good News Translation
You sinned in secret, but I will make this happen in broad daylight for all Israel to see.'"

International Standard Version
"'What you did in secret I'm going to do right in front of all Israel and in broad daylight as well!'"

Majority Standard Bible
You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.??

NET Bible
Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.'"

New Heart English Bible
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

World English Bible
For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for you have done [it] in secret, and I do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”

Young's Literal Translation
for thou hast done it in secret, and I do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For thou didst in secret: and I will do this word before all Israel, and before the sun.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and in the sight of the sun.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For you acted secretly. But I will do this word in the sight of all of Israel, and in the sight of the sun.’ ”

New American Bible
You have acted in secret, but I will do this in the presence of all Israel, in the presence of the sun itself.”

New Revised Standard Version
For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, in the daytime.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You have done secretly and I shall do it this before the eye of all Israel and before the sun!"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thou didst it secretly, but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and before the sun.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nathan Rebukes David
11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. 12 You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

Cross References
Numbers 32:23
But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.

Luke 12:2-3
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. / What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Jeremiah 16:17
For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Psalm 90:8
You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

Isaiah 29:15
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”

1 Timothy 5:24-25
The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. / In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

Psalm 44:21
would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

secretly

2 Samuel 11:4,8,13,15
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house…

Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Luke 12:1,2
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy…

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2 Samuel 12
1. Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb causes David to be his own judge.
7. David, reproved by Nathan, confesses his sin, and is pardoned
15. David mourns and prays for the child while it lives
24. Solomon is born, and named Jedidiah
26. David takes Rabbah, and tortures the people thereof














You have acted in secret
This phrase highlights the clandestine nature of David's sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. The Hebrew root for "secret" is "סָתַר" (sathar), which means to hide or conceal. This reflects the human tendency to hide sin, thinking it can be kept from God and others. Historically, secret sins were often thought to be hidden from divine judgment, but this passage reminds us that God sees all. Theologically, it underscores the omniscience of God, who knows the depths of our hearts and actions, even those we attempt to conceal.

but I will do this thing
Here, God, through the prophet Nathan, declares His intention to bring judgment upon David. The phrase "I will do" in Hebrew is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to accomplish or execute. This indicates God's active role in bringing about justice. It serves as a reminder that God is not passive in the face of sin but is a righteous judge who will act according to His divine will. This reflects the biblical principle that God will not be mocked, and what a man sows, he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

in broad daylight
The phrase "broad daylight" translates from the Hebrew "נֶגֶד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ" (neged hashemesh), meaning openly or publicly. This contrasts with the secrecy of David's sin, emphasizing that God's judgment will be visible and undeniable. In the ancient Near Eastern context, public exposure was a severe form of shame and punishment. This serves as a sobering reminder that hidden sins can lead to public consequences, and God's justice will ultimately be revealed for all to see.

before all Israel
This phrase underscores the communal aspect of David's sin and its repercussions. "All Israel" refers to the entire nation, highlighting that David's actions, though personal, had national implications. In the Hebrew context, leaders were seen as representatives of their people, and their actions could bring blessings or curses upon the nation. This serves as a warning to leaders about the far-reaching impact of their actions and the importance of integrity and accountability before God and the community.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have acted
עָשִׂ֣יתָ (‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

in secret,
בַסָּ֑תֶר (ḇas·sā·ṯer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5643: A covering, hiding place, secrecy

but I
וַאֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will do
אֶעֱשֶׂה֙ (’e·‘ĕ·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this thing
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

in broad daylight
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (haš·šā·meš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8121: The sun, the east, a ray, a notched battlement

before
נֶ֥גֶד (ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel.’”
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: 2 Samuel 12:12 For you did it secretly but (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 12:11
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