Naravist

Person in the Old Testament

Nathan

Nathan: the prophet who confronts David

Portrait of Nathan. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Nathan looked.

Who Nathan is

Nathan is the prophet to whom David speaks about building a house for the ark. He first approves David's intention, then receives a word from the Lord at night and reports the promise concerning David's house and offspring. After David takes Bathsheba and arranges Uriah's death, the Lord sends Nathan with a story about a rich man taking a poor man's lamb. Nathan identifies David as the offender and announces both forgiveness and continuing judgment. He is also associated with the name Jedidiah given to Solomon. Near the end of David's life, Nathan works with Bathsheba to secure David's confirmation of Solomon as successor and goes to Gihon for Solomon's anointing.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 7:1, 2 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 7:3, 2 Samuel 7:4, 2 Samuel 7:5, 2 Samuel 7:6, 2 Samuel 7:7, 2 Samuel 7:8, 2 Samuel 7:9, 2 Samuel 7:10, 2 Samuel 7:11, 2 Samuel 7:12, 2 Samuel 7:13, 2 Samuel 7:14, 2 Samuel 7:15, 2 Samuel 7:16, 2 Samuel 7:17, 2 Samuel 11:14, 2 Samuel 11:15, 2 Samuel 11:16, 2 Samuel 11:17, 2 Samuel 11:26, 2 Samuel 11:27, 2 Samuel 12:1, 2 Samuel 12:2, 2 Samuel 12:3, 2 Samuel 12:4, 2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 12:6, 2 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 12:8, 2 Samuel 12:9, 2 Samuel 12:10, 2 Samuel 12:11, 2 Samuel 12:12, 2 Samuel 12:13, 2 Samuel 12:14, 2 Samuel 12:15, 2 Samuel 12:24, 2 Samuel 12:25, 1 Kings 1:11, 1 Kings 1:12, 1 Kings 1:13, 1 Kings 1:14, 1 Kings 1:15, 1 Kings 1:16, 1 Kings 1:17, 1 Kings 1:18, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:20, 1 Kings 1:21, 1 Kings 1:22, 1 Kings 1:23, 1 Kings 1:24, 1 Kings 1:25, 1 Kings 1:26, 1 Kings 1:27, 1 Kings 1:28, 1 Kings 1:29, 1 Kings 1:30, 1 Kings 1:31, 1 Kings 1:32, 1 Kings 1:33, 1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:35, 1 Kings 1:36, 1 Kings 1:37, 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 1:39

Historical setting

This Nathan is the prophet who addresses David, distinct from the son of David named Nathan in the royal family list. The court scenes do not supply the prophet's parentage or age. At Gihon, Nathan participates in the succession action, while the narrative specifically names Zadok as the priest who takes the oil and anoints Solomon. Chronicles names a record of David's acts associated with Nathan alongside those of Samuel and Gad; that notice does not identify those records with the present books of Samuel.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 5:14, 2 Samuel 7:2, 1 Kings 1:32, 1 Kings 1:33, 1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:35, 1 Kings 1:36, 1 Kings 1:37, 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 1:39, 1 Chronicles 29:29, 1 Chronicles 29:30

How the story is told

Nathan's first approval of the temple plan is followed by a different word received at night; his access to the king does not make every first response a divine command. The lamb story draws David into judging a wrong before Nathan names David as the offender. Promise to the house of David and judgment on its king are both entrusted to the same prophet. His later work with Bathsheba places him inside the succession struggle as well as in the scenes of prophetic address.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 7:2, 2 Samuel 7:3, 2 Samuel 7:4, 2 Samuel 7:5, 2 Samuel 7:6, 2 Samuel 7:7, 2 Samuel 7:8, 2 Samuel 7:9, 2 Samuel 7:10, 2 Samuel 7:11, 2 Samuel 7:12, 2 Samuel 7:13, 2 Samuel 7:14, 2 Samuel 7:15, 2 Samuel 7:16, 2 Samuel 7:17, 2 Samuel 12:1, 2 Samuel 12:2, 2 Samuel 12:3, 2 Samuel 12:4, 2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 12:6, 2 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 12:8, 2 Samuel 12:9, 2 Samuel 12:10, 2 Samuel 12:11, 2 Samuel 12:12, 2 Samuel 12:13, 2 Samuel 12:14, 1 Kings 1:11, 1 Kings 1:12, 1 Kings 1:13, 1 Kings 1:14, 1 Kings 1:15, 1 Kings 1:16, 1 Kings 1:17, 1 Kings 1:18, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:20, 1 Kings 1:21, 1 Kings 1:22, 1 Kings 1:23, 1 Kings 1:24, 1 Kings 1:25, 1 Kings 1:26, 1 Kings 1:27

Story moments

  1. An initial approval (2 Samuel 7:3). Nathan first tells David to do what is in his heart.
  2. A word in the night (2 Samuel 7:4). The Lord's word comes to Nathan after that initial conversation.
  3. The message delivered (2 Samuel 7:17). Nathan reports the words and vision concerning David's house.
  4. David named as the offender (2 Samuel 12:7). Nathan turns the judgment of the lamb story directly toward David.
  5. Forgiveness announced (2 Samuel 12:13). After David confesses, Nathan says the Lord has put away his sin and he will not die.
  6. The name Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:25). The naming of Solomon as Jedidiah is linked with Nathan's role as prophet.
  7. Bathsheba urged to act (1 Kings 1:11). Nathan raises Adonijah's attempted succession with Bathsheba.
  8. The journey to Gihon (1 Kings 1:38). Nathan accompanies Zadok, Benaiah and the royal escort with Solomon.

Key passages

2 Samuel 7:2

That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2 Samuel 7:3

And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

2 Samuel 7:4

And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying,

2 Samuel 7:17

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2 Samuel 12:1

And 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 Samuel 12:5

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:

King James Version. 30 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

What do Nathan's revised counsel and direct confrontation show about distinguishing royal wishes from the Lord's word?

Books Nathan appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.