2 Samuel 12:14 (WEB)

Passage

However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”

Nearby Context

2 Samuel 12:12 For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”

2 Samuel 12:13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.

2 Samuel 12:14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”

2 Samuel 12:15 Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "however", "deed", "given", "great", "occasion", "yahweh", "enemies", and "blaspheme". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "however" and "deed", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "David said to Nathan I have sinned..." into verse 15's "Nathan departed to his house Yahweh struck...", so "however" and "deed" belong inside that flow. In 2 Samuel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "however" and "deed" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.