The Meaning of 2 Samuel 12:14 Explained

2 Samuel 12:14

KJV: Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

YLT: only, because thou hast caused the enemies of Jehovah greatly to despise by this thing, also the son who is born to thee doth surely die.'

Darby: Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, even the child that is born to thee shall certainly die.

ASV: Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Howbeit,  because by this deed  thou hast given  great occasion  to the enemies  of the LORD  to blaspheme,  the child  also [that is] born  unto thee shall surely  die. 

What does 2 Samuel 12:14 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 12:1-14 - Thou Art The Man
A year followed on his sin, but David gave no sign. He describes his condition during that awful time in Psalms 32:3-4. Conscience scourged him incessantly, but he did not return to God until Nathan had been sent to fetch him. The Good Shepherd went after that which was lost until he found it. "He restoreth my soul!" But soul-agony is not enough, keen though it be; there must be confession.
Nathan's parable was the mirror in which the true enormity of the king's sin was held up to his face. He was judged, and he judged himself. By the manifestation of the truth, Nathan commended himself to the king's conscience, as in the sight of God. And finally came the home-thrust-Thou art the man. The words of confession were immediate and deeply sincere. There was no thought of the human wrongs he had done. All were included in the great sin against God. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned." And the confession was met, as it always is, by an instant assurance of pardon-"The Lord"¦ hath put away thy sin." [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 12:14 mean?

However because great you have given occasion to blaspheme - to the enemies of Yahweh by deed this also the child [who is] born to you surely shall die
אֶ֗פֶס כִּֽי־ נִאֵ֤ץ נִאַ֙צְתָּ֙ אֶת־ אֹיְבֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה בַּדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה גַּ֗ם הַבֵּ֛ן הַיִּלּ֥וֹד לְךָ֖ מ֥וֹת יָמֽוּת

אֶ֗פֶס  However 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִאֵ֤ץ  great 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
נִאַ֙צְתָּ֙  you  have  given  occasion  to  blaspheme 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֹיְבֵ֣י  to  the  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּדָּבָ֖ר  by  deed 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
גַּ֗ם  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הַבֵּ֛ן  the  child 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הַיִּלּ֥וֹד  [who  is]  born 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יִלֹּוד  
Sense: born.
לְךָ֖  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
מ֥וֹת  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יָמֽוּת  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.