2 Samuel 11:2

Wycliffe Bible

While these thingis weren doon, it befelde, that Dauid roos in a dai fro his bed after mydday, and walkide in the soler of the kyngis hows; and he siy a womman waischynge hir silf euen ayens on hir soler; sotheli the womman was ful fair.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.

Hebrew Names Version
It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.

King James Version
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

Lexham English Bible
It happened late one afternoon that David got up from his bed and walked about on the roof of the king's house, and he saw a woman bathing on her roof. Now the woman was very beautiful.

English Standard Version
It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

New Century Version
One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. While he was on the roof, he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful.

New English Translation
One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive.

Amplified Bible
One evening David got up from his couch and was walking on the [flat] roof of the king's palace, and from there he saw a woman bathing; and she was very beautiful in appearance.

New American Standard Bible
Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when it was euening tide, Dauid arose out of his bed, and walked vpon the roofe of the Kings palace: and from the roofe he sawe a woman washing her selfe: and the woman was very beautifull to looke vpon.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.

Contemporary English Version
Late one afternoon, David got up from a nap and was walking around on the flat roof of his palace. A beautiful young woman was down below in her courtyard, bathing as her religion required. David happened to see her, and he sent one of his servants to find out who she was. The servant came back and told David, "Her name is Bathsheba. She is the daughter of Eliam, and she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite." David sent some messengers to bring her to his palace. She came to him, and he slept with her. Then she returned home.

Complete Jewish Bible
Once, after his afternoon nap, David got up from his bed and went strolling on the roof of the king's palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.

Darby Translation
And it came to pass at evening time that David arose from off his couch, and walked upon the roof of the king's house; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful;

Easy-to-Read Version
One evening he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his house. From there he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful,

George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass in the evening that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the kings house; and he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

Good News Translation
One day, late in the afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. As he walked around up there, he saw a woman taking a bath in her house. She was very beautiful.

Literal Translation
And it happened at evening time, David rose up from his bed and walked up and down on the roof of the king's house. And he saw from the roof a woman bathing. And the woman was very good of form.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And aboute the euetyde it fortuned that Dauid arose from his restinge place, & wente vp to ye toppe of the kynges palace, and from ye toppe he sawe a woman waßshinge hir selfe, and the woman was of a very fayre bewtye.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

Bible in Basic English
Now one evening, David got up from his bed, and while he was walking on the roof of the king's house, he saw from there a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And in an euening tyde, Dauid arose out of his bed, and walked vpon the roofe of the kinges palace, and from the roofe he sawe a woman washing her selfe, and the woman was very beautifull to loke vpon.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe in an euening tide, that Dauid arose from off his bed, and walked vpon the roofe of the kings house: and from the roofe he saw a woman washing her selfe; and the woman was very beautifull to looke vpon.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass toward evening, that David arose off his couch, and walked on the roof of the king’s house, and saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

Berean Standard Bible
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing-a very beautiful woman.

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, at evening-time, that David riseth from off his couch, and walketh up and down on the roof of the king's house, and seeth from the roof a woman bathing, and the woman [is] of very good appearance,

Update Bible Version
And it came to pass at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look at.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.

World English Bible
It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.

New King James Version
Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

New Living Translation
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.

New Life Bible
When evening came David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house. From the roof he saw a woman washing herself. The woman was very beautiful.

New Revised Standard
It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass that, at eventide, David arose from his couch, and walked to and fro on the roof of the king's house, when, from the roof, he saw a woman bathing herself, - the woman being exceeding beautiful to look upon.

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the mean time it happened that David arose from his bed after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: And he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful.

Revised Standard Version
It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

THE MESSAGE
One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful. David sent to ask about her, and was told, "Isn't this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?" David sent his agents to get her. After she arrived, he went to bed with her. (This occurred during the time of "purification" following her period.) Then she returned home. Before long she realized she was pregnant. Later she sent word to David: "I'm pregnant."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.

Contextual Overview

¹ Forsothe it was doon, whanne the yeer turnede ayen in that tyme wherynne kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Dauid sente Joab, and with hym hise seruauntis, and al Israel; and thei distrieden the sones of Amon, and bisegiden Rabath; forsothe Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem. ² While these thingis weren doon, it befelde, that Dauid roos in a dai fro his bed after mydday, and walkide in the soler of the kyngis hows; and he siy a womman waischynge hir silf euen ayens on hir soler; sotheli the womman was ful fair. ³ Therfor the kyng sente, and enqueride, what womman it was; and it was teld to hym, that sche was Bersabee, the douytir of Heliam, and was the wijf of Vrye Ethei. ⁴ Therfor bi messangeris sent Dauid took hir; and whanne sche entride to hym, he slepte with hir, and anoon sche was halewid fro hir vnclenesse. ⁵ And sche turnede ayen in to hir hows, with child conseyued; and sche sente, and telde to Dauid, and seide, Y haue conseyued.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

arose from: 2 Samuel 4:5, 2 Samuel 4:7, Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 24:33, Proverbs 24:34, Matthew 26:40, Matthew 26:41, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:7, 1 Peter 4:7

the roof of: Deuteronomy 22:8, Jeremiah 19:13, Matthew 10:27, Acts 10:9

he saw: Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Genesis 34:2, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:37, Matthew 5:28, 1 John 2:16

very beautiful: Genesis 39:6, Proverbs 6:25, Proverbs 31:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:11 - a fair Genesis 38:2 - saw Exodus 20:17 - wife Joshua 2:6 - to the roof Joshua 7:21 - I saw Judges 14:1 - Timnath Judges 16:27 - the roof 1 Samuel 9:25 - the top 2 Samuel 13:1 - a fair sister 2 Samuel 16:22 - the top Nehemiah 8:16 - the roof Job 20:14 - his meat Psalms 51:1 - after Psalms 101:3 - set Psalms 119:67 - Before Psalms 139:3 - my path Proverbs 7:8 - General Proverbs 23:31 - General Ecclesiastes 11:9 - in the sight Jeremiah 5:8 - every one Ezekiel 23:16 - as soon as she saw them with her eyes Luke 5:19 - housetop Romans 7:7 - Thou shalt Galatians 6:1 - overtaken James 1:14 - when 2 Peter 2:14 - eyes

Cross-References

Genesis 10:10
Sotheli the bigynnyng of his rewme was Babiloyne, and Arach, and Archad, and Thalamye, in the lond of Sennaar.

Genesis 11:9
And therfor the name therof was clepid Babel, for the langage of al erthe was confoundide there; and fro thennus the Lord scaterede hem on the face of alle cuntrees.

Genesis 13:11
And Loth chees to him the cuntre aboute Jordan, and departide fro the eest; and thei weren departid ech fro his brother.

Genesis 14:1
Forsothe it was don in that tyme, that Amrafel, kyng of Sennaar, and Ariok, kyng of Ponte, and Chodorlaomor, kyng of Elemytis,

Isaiah 11:11
And it schal be in that day, the Lord schal adde the secounde tyme his hond to haue in possessioun the residue of his puple that schal be left, of Assiriens, and of Egipt, and of Fethros, and of Ethiope, and of Elan, and of Sennar, and of Emath, and of ylis of the see.

Daniel 1:2
And the Lord bitook in his hond Joachym, the kyng of Juda, and he took a part of the vessels of the hous of God; and he bar out tho in to the lond of Sennaar, in to the hous of his god, and he took the vessels in to the hous of tresour of his god.

Zechariah 5:11
And he seide to me, That an hous be bildid therto in the lond of Sennaar, and be stablischid, and set there on his foundement.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass in an eveningtide,.... Some time in the afternoon, when the sun began to decline; not in the dusk of the evening, for then the object he saw could not have been seen so distinctly by him:

that David arose from off his bed; having taken a nap in the heat of the day after dinner; indulging himself more than he used to do to sloth and luxury, which prepared him, and led him on the more eagerly to the lust of uncleanness:

and walked upon the roof of the king's house; to refresh himself after his sleep, it being the cool of the day, and the roof of the house being flat and fit to walk upon, as the houses of Judea were; see

Deuteronomy 22:8;

and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; in a bath in her garden, or in an apartment in her house, the window being open:

and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon; of a fine shape and good complexion, and comely countenance; all which were incentives to lust, at which his eye was attracted to, and his heart was ensnared with her.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

An eveningtide - The evening began at three o’clock in the afternoon.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 11:2. In an evening-tide - David arose — He had been reposing on the roof of his house, to enjoy the breeze, as the noonday was too hot for the performance of business. This is still a constant custom on the flat-roofed houses in the East.

He saw a woman washing herself — How could any woman of delicacy expose herself where she could be so fully and openly viewed? Did she not know that she was at least in view of the king's terrace? Was there no design in all this? Et fugit ad salices, et se cupit ante videri. In a Bengal town pools of water are to be seen everywhere, and women may be seen morning and evening bathing in them, and carrying water home. Thus David might have seen Bath-sheba, and no blame attach to her.

Ver. 2 Samuel 11:4 shows us that this washing was at the termination of a particular period.