2 Samuel 12:4
New International Version
“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

New Living Translation
One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

English Standard Version
Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

New American Standard Bible
“Now a visitor came to the wealthy man, And he could not bring himself to take any animal from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the traveler who had come to him; So he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

NASB 1995
“Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

NASB 1977
“Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now a visitor came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the traveler who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Amplified Bible
“Now a traveler (visitor) came to the rich man, And to avoid taking one from his own flock or herd To prepare [a meal] for the traveler who had come to him, He took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for his guest.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take 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.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
One day someone came to visit the rich man, but the rich man didn't want to kill any of his own sheep or cattle and serve it to the visitor. So he stole the poor man's lamb and served it instead.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared her for the traveler."

Good News Translation
One day a visitor arrived at the rich man's home. The rich man didn't want to kill one of his own animals to fix a meal for him; instead, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal for his guest."

International Standard Version
A traveler arrived to visit the rich man. Because he was unwilling to take an animal from one of his own flocks or herds to prepare for the guest who had come to visit him, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to visit him."

Majority Standard Bible
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.”

NET Bible
"When a traveler arrived at the rich man's home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him."

New Heart English Bible
A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."

Webster's Bible Translation
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the way-faring man that had come to him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.

World English Bible
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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And a traveler comes to the rich man, and he spares to take from his own flock, and from his own herd, to prepare for the traveling [man] who has come to him; and he takes the ewe-lamb of the poor man and prepares it for the man who has come to him.”

Young's Literal Translation
And there cometh a traveller to the rich man, And he spareth to take Of his own flock, and of his own herd, To prepare for the traveller Who hath come to him, And he taketh the ewe-lamb of the poor man, And prepareth it for the man Who hath come unto him.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And a traveler will come to the rich man, and he will spare to take from his sheep and from his oxen to do for the wayfarer coming to him; and he will take the poor man's ewe lamb and do for the man coming to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when a certain stranger was come to the rich man, he spared to take of his own sheep and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, who was come to him, but took the poor man's ewe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But when a certain traveler had come to the wealthy man, neglecting to take from his own sheep and oxen, so that he might present a feast for that traveler, who had come to him, he took the sheep of the poor man, and he prepared a meal for the man who had come to him.”

New American Bible
Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And there came a guest to the rich man, and he refused to take of his own herds or flocks to make a banquet for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the guest who had come to him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A guest came to the rich man and he spared to take from his oxen and from his sheep to prepare for his guest who had come to him, and he took the ewe lamb of that poor man and he prepared it for his guest who had come to him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And a traveller came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his flocks and of his herds, to dress for the traveller that came to him; and he took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that came to him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nathan Rebukes David
3but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him. 4Now 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.” 5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!…

Cross References
Exodus 22:1
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.

Leviticus 6:4-5
once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, / or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt.

Proverbs 6:30-31
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. / Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Matthew 18:25-27
Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. / Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ / His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

1 Kings 21:1-16
Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. / So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” / But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” ...

Micah 2:1-2
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

James 5:1-6
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ...

Amos 8:4-6
Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

Isaiah 3:14-15
The LORD brings this charge against the elders and leaders of His people: “You have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses. / Why do you crush My people and grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

Jeremiah 22:13-17
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, / who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion. / Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Job 24:2-4
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks. / They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge. / They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

Matthew 21:33-41
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And there came a travelers 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 was come to him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

a traveller

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, …

James 1:14
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

took the

2 Samuel 11:3,4
And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? …

Jump to Previous
Dress Dressed Ewe Flock Herd Lamb Poor Prepare Prepared Rather Rich Spared Traveler Wayfarer Wayfaring
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Dress Dressed Ewe Flock Herd Lamb Poor Prepare Prepared Rather Rich Spared Traveler Wayfarer Wayfaring
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














Now a traveler came
The word "traveler" in Hebrew is "הָלַךְ" (halak), which means to walk or to go. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty. A traveler would often rely on the generosity of others for sustenance and shelter. This sets the stage for the moral and ethical expectations placed upon the rich man, highlighting the cultural importance of hospitality and the moral failing that is about to be described.

to the rich man
The Hebrew word for "rich" is "עָשִׁיר" (ashir), indicating someone with abundant resources. In biblical times, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing, yet it also came with the responsibility to act justly and generously. The rich man in this parable is a figure of authority and power, yet his actions reveal a heart that is not aligned with God's justice and mercy.

but the rich man refrained
The phrase "refrained" suggests a deliberate choice. The Hebrew root "חָסַךְ" (chasak) means to withhold or spare. This indicates a conscious decision by the rich man to withhold his own resources, which is a direct violation of the expected norms of generosity and hospitality. It underscores the selfishness and moral corruption that Nathan is highlighting in this parable.

from taking one of his own sheep or cattle
Sheep and cattle were common measures of wealth and prosperity in ancient Israel. The rich man's refusal to use his own abundant resources for the traveler is a stark contrast to the expected behavior of a righteous person. This phrase emphasizes the abundance of the rich man's possessions and his unwillingness to part with even a small portion for the sake of another.

to prepare for the traveler who had come to him
The act of preparation for a guest was a significant cultural practice, symbolizing respect and honor. The Hebrew word "עָשָׂה" (asah) means to do or make, indicating the effort and intention behind the act. The rich man's failure to prepare from his own flock is a breach of the social and moral code, highlighting his lack of compassion and integrity.

Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb
The word "took" in Hebrew is "לָקַח" (laqach), which implies seizing or taking by force. This action is a grave injustice, as it involves exploiting the vulnerable. The "poor man" is described with the Hebrew word "רָשׁ" (rash), meaning impoverished or lacking. The lamb represents the poor man's only possession, a symbol of his livelihood and affection, making the rich man's act not only unjust but also deeply personal and cruel.

and prepared it for his guest
The preparation of the lamb for the guest, using the Hebrew word "עָשָׂה" (asah) again, underscores the rich man's complete disregard for the poor man's plight. This act of preparation, which should have been an expression of generosity, becomes an act of theft and exploitation. It serves as a powerful indictment of the rich man's character and a poignant illustration of the broader theme of justice and righteousness that runs throughout the biblical narrative.

Verse 4. - A traveller,... wayfaring man,... man that was come to him. Nathan probably used these three terms chiefly to diversify his language, but it has served as a handle for much allegorizing. Thus Rashi explains it of covetousness, which comes at first as a mere "passer by," the literal meaning of the word rendered "traveller." But, if admitted, it grows into "a wayfaring man," who comes and goes on business, and stays a longer time. Finally it changes into "one who has come to him," and remains permanently. Such allegorical interpretations are common in the Fathers, and thus Augustine compares the three stages of sin to our Lord's three miracles of raising the dead. The sinner is at first like Jairus's daughter, just dead, and repentance can restore him immediately to life; but, if sin be persisted in, he becomes like the son of the widow of Nain, carried away to burial; and finally like Lazarus, given over to corruption.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now a traveler
הֵלֶךְ֮ (hê·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1982: A journey, a wayfarer, a flowing

came
וַיָּ֣בֹא (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the rich
הֶֽעָשִׁיר֒ (he·‘ā·šîr)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6223: Rich

man,
לְאִ֣ישׁ (lə·’îš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who refrained from taking
לָקַ֤חַת (lā·qa·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3947: To take

one of his own sheep
מִצֹּאנוֹ֙ (miṣ·ṣō·nōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

or cattle
וּמִבְּקָר֔וֹ (ū·mib·bə·qā·rōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd

to prepare
לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for the traveler
לָאֹרֵ֖חַ (lā·’ō·rê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 732: To wander, journey, go

who had come
הַבָּא־ (hab·bā-)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to him.
ל֑וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

Instead, he took
וַיִּקַּ֗ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

the poor
הָרָ֔אשׁ (hā·rāš)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7326: To be in want or poor

man’s
הָאִ֣ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

lamb
כִּבְשַׂת֙ (kiḇ·śaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3535: Ewe lamb

and prepared it
וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֔הָ (way·ya·‘ă·śe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for his guest.”
לָאִ֖ישׁ (lā·’îš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT History: 2 Samuel 12:4 A traveler came to the rich man (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 12:3
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