2 Samuel 12:21
New International Version
His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

New Living Translation
His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”

English Standard Version
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

Berean Standard Bible
“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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

New American Standard Bible
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you got up and ate food.”

NASB 1995
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

NASB 1977
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

Amplified Bible
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive you fasted and wept, but when the child died, you got up and ate food.”

Christian Standard Bible
His servants asked him, “Why have you done this? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
His Servants said to him: “What is this you have done? When the boy was alive, you were fasting and praying, and when he died you arose to eat bread!”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And his servants said to him, What is this thing that thou hast done concerning the child? while it was yet living thou didst fast, and weep, and watch: and when the child was dead thou didst rise up, and didst eat bread, and drink.

Contemporary English Version
His officials said, "What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And his servants said to 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 up, and eat bread.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His officials asked him, "Why are you acting this way? You fasted and cried over the child when he was alive. But as soon as the child died, you got up and ate."

Good News Translation
"We don't understand this," his officials said to him. "While the child was alive, you wept for him and would not eat; but as soon as he died, you got up and ate!"

International Standard Version
His staff asked him, "What's this about? When the child was alive, you fasted and cried. Now that the child has died, you get up and eat!"

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Literal Standard Version
And his servants say to him, “What [is] this thing you have done? Because of the living boy you have fasted and you weep, and when the boy is dead you have risen and eat bread.”

Majority Standard Bible
“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.”

New American Bible
His servants said to him: “What is this you are doing? While the child was living, you fasted and wept and kept vigil; now that the child is dead, you rise and take food.”

NET Bible
His servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!"

New Revised Standard Version
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food.”

New Heart English Bible
Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept and kept vigil for the child while he was alive; but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but after the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

World English Bible
Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread.”

Young's Literal Translation
And his servants say unto him, 'What is this thing thou hast done? because of the living lad thou hast fasted and dost weep, and when the lad is dead thou hast risen and dost eat bread.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Loss and Repentance
20Then 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.” 22David 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.’…

Cross References
2 Samuel 12:20
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.

2 Samuel 12:22
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.'

2 Kings 20:3
"Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread.

What thing

1 Corinthians 2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Jump to Previous
Acting Alive Ate Bread Child Dead Died Eat Fast Fasted Food Lad Rise Servants Soon Way Weep Weeping Wept
Jump to Next
Acting Alive Ate Bread Child Dead Died Eat Fast Fasted Food Lad Rise Servants Soon Way Weep Weeping Wept
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
















Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“What [is]
מָֽה־ (māh-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

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

you have done?”
עָשִׂ֑יתָה (‘ā·śî·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

his servants
עֲבָדָיו֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

asked.
וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“While
בַּעֲב֞וּר (ba·‘ă·ḇūr)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5668: Crossed, transit, on account of, in order that

the child
הַיֶּ֤לֶד (hay·ye·leḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

was alive,
חַי֙ (ḥay)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

you fasted
צַ֣מְתָּ (ṣam·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6684: To abstain from food, fast

and wept,
וַתֵּ֔בְךְּ (wat·tê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

but when
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he
הַיֶּ֔לֶד (hay·ye·leḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

died,
מֵ֣ת (mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

you got up
קַ֖מְתָּ (qam·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and ate.”
וַתֹּ֥אכַל (wat·tō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat


Links
2 Samuel 12:21 NIV
2 Samuel 12:21 NLT
2 Samuel 12:21 ESV
2 Samuel 12:21 NASB
2 Samuel 12:21 KJV

2 Samuel 12:21 BibleApps.com
2 Samuel 12:21 Biblia Paralela
2 Samuel 12:21 Chinese Bible
2 Samuel 12:21 French Bible
2 Samuel 12:21 Catholic Bible

OT History: 2 Samuel 12:21 Then said his servants to him What (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 12:20
Top of Page
Top of Page