The Rich Man and the Ewe Lamb

The prophet Nathan told King David about a rich man who stole a poor man's only lamb. David demanded justice - and Nathan answered, 'Thou art the man.'

After David took Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband Uriah, the LORD sent the prophet Nathan to him with a story. A rich man with many flocks and herds received a traveler, but instead of taking from his own animals he took a poor man's only ewe lamb, a pet that had grown up with his children and was to him as a daughter. David burned with anger and declared that the rich man deserved to die and must restore the lamb fourfold. Nathan replied, 'Thou art the man.' The parable turned David's own sense of justice against him and led him to confess, 'I have sinned against the LORD.'

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Category: Judgment

Meaning: Sin is easy to condemn in others and hard to see in ourselves; God's word exposes hidden sin so that it can be confessed.

Audience: King David

Key Chapters

2 Samuel 12 Nathan Rebukes David 6 min read Nathan's simple story slips past David's defenses, and the king pronounces judgm...

Key Passages

Thou Art the Man

2 Samuel 12:1-7

Nathan's simple story slips past David's defenses, and the king pronounces judgment on himself before he realizes he is the man.

A¹nd the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: ³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. ⁴ 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. ⁵ And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: ⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. ⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;