Verse (Click for Chapter) 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. 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." 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!" 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.” 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 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.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd 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.” 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.' Smith's Literal Translation And his servants will say to him, What this word which thou didst? for sake of the child living thou didst fast and weep, and when the child died thou didst rise and thou wilt eat bread. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd 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. Catholic Public Domain Version But his servants said to him: “What is this word that you have done? You fasted and were weeping, on behalf of the infant, while he was still alive. But when the boy was dead, you arose and ate bread.” 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.” 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.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen his servants said to him, What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you were fasting and praying, but when he was dead, you did rise up and eat food. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated 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!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then 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.' 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. 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 12:16-20 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. / On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.” ... 2 Samuel 1:11-12 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. / They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 2 Samuel 3:31-35 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. / When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. / And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool? ... 1 Samuel 1:10-11 In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” 1 Samuel 7:6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah. 1 Kings 21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. Jonah 3:5-10 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. ... Esther 4:3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Psalm 35:13-14 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. / I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. Psalm 69:10 I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach. Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, / so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 9:14-15 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?” / Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. Matthew 11:17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ Mark 2:18-20 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” / Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. / But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 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 WeptJump to Next Acting Alive Ate Bread Child Dead Died Eat Fast Fasted Food Lad Rise Servants Soon Way Weep Weeping Wept2 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 What is this you have done? This phrase is a direct question posed by David's servants, reflecting their confusion and concern. In Hebrew, the phrase is "מָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ" (mah hadavar hazeh asher asita). The word "מָה" (mah) translates to "what," indicating a quest for understanding. This question echoes the accountability seen throughout Scripture, where actions are often scrutinized in light of divine expectations. It is reminiscent of God's question to Adam in Genesis 3:13, emphasizing the need for introspection and acknowledgment of one's actions. While the child was alive, you fasted and wept but when he died, you got up and ate 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 NIV2 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) |
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