Bible Strands
2 Samuel 12:10
Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks through the prophet Nathan to King David immediately after David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his orchestration of Uriah’s death. This declaration occurs during a direct confrontation where Nathan pronounces judgment for royal covenant violation.
The words — The Hebrew תָס֥וּר (ta.Sur) means “it will depart,” paired with חֶ֛רֶב (Che.rev), “sword,” to form the phrase “the sword will never depart.” The phrase עַד־עוֹלָם (ad-'olam) literally translates to “until perpetuity,” marking the consequence as unending.
The thread — The pattern of violent retribution returns in 2 Samuel 18:14, where military conflict continues, and in Matthew 26:52, where Jesus states that all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
Why it lands — The text states that privileged authority does not shield one from accountability for abusing power and violating covenant boundaries. It requires readers to confront how deliberate sin generates inescapable, prolonged consequences.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 18:14 But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
- Matthew 26:52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
- Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Genesis 20:3 One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
- Numbers 11:20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”
- 1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
- 2 Samuel 13:28 Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
- 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 1 Kings 2:23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life.
- Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.