Bible Strands
2 Samuel 16:12
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to his servant Abishai and his fleeing retinue immediately after commanding them to ignore Shimei’s verbal assault (2 Samuel 16:11). He utters this while walking the road, with Shimei continuing to hurl stones and dust at him from the opposite ridge (2 Samuel 16:13).
The words — The Hebrew term אוּלַי ('u.Lai) translates literally as "perhaps," marking a conditional hope rather than a guarantee. The verb יִרְאֶה (yir.'Eh) means "he will look," paired with בְּעֵינִי (be./'o.n/i) to form "upon my affliction," denoting direct divine observation of David’s suffering.
The thread — The pattern of God observing distress and responding with good appears in Exodus 2:24, where God hears groaning and acts on His covenant. It also aligns with the principle in Deuteronomy 23:5 that God has the authority to intercept and reverse human curses.
Why it lands — The text records David’s refusal to retaliate while explicitly acknowledging that God permits the cursing and will ultimately judge it. It requires the reader to endure unjust treatment without violence, trusting that divine observation precedes vindication.
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
It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 23:5 Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.
- Hebrews 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Exodus 2:24 So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Psalms 25:18 Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins.
- Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- 1 Samuel 1:11 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.”
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.