22
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whileבְּעוֹדthe childהַיֶּלֶדwas still alive,חַיI fastedצַמְתִּיand wept,וָאֶבְכֶּהforכִּיI said,אָמַרְתִּי‘WhoמִיknowsיוֹדֵעַwhetherYHWHיְהוָהwill show me favor,וְחַנַּנִיand the childוְ הַיָּלֶדwill live?’חַי
2 Samuel 12:22
Study it in the app“He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether YHWH will show me favor, and the child will live?’”
With the Hebrew beneath
2 Samuel 12:22, word by word
- He saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- the childיֶּלֶדyeled
child
A small child, or a boy who is not yet a grown man.
Where else “yeled” appears- was still aliveחַיchay
alive
Having life, not dead.
Where else “chay” appears- I fastedצַמְתִּיtsamti
fast
Fast: go without food for a time, as a sign of grief or to seek God.
Where else “tsamti” appears- and weptאֶבְכֶּהevke
weep
Weep, cry; mourn for someone.
Where else “evke” appears- knowsיוֹדֵעַyodea
know
To know something, realize.
Where else “yodea” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- will show me favorחַנַּchana
show favor
To treat someone with undeserved kindness.
Where else “chana” appears
The context
21His servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? For the sake of the child, while he was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you rose and ate bread.”
22 · This verse (above)
23But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I am going to him, but he will not return to me.”