Nevertheless: the transition word here is unusual but clearly introduces something that is contrary to expectation. In spite of the fact that David is promised that he will not die because of his sin with Bathsheba, their child will be taken from them. A rather strong contrastive conjunction will probably be required in the receptor language. Anderson uses “However.”

You have utterly scorned: literally “to scorn you scorned.” This is a special kind of construction in Hebrew that places two forms of the same verb together for the purpose of emphasis. Fox maintains the emphasis in English by translating “you have scorned, yes, scorned….” While this verb is not the same as that translated despised in verses 9 and 10, it has a very similar meaning. The verb used here is found in 1 Sam 2.17.

The LORD: the Masoretic Text has “the enemies of the LORD” (King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and New International Version). If this is correct, the meaning of the whole clause would have to be “by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt.” Most modern scholars, however, think that the original reading was as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, and that this was changed by later scribes who found it offensive to speak of showing “utter contempt for the LORD” (see the comments on verse 9 above). Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends the reading reflected in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, and it is followed by the majority of modern versions. On the idea of blaspheming God, compare 1 Sam 3.13.

The child that is born to you: since the child had already been born (11.27), translators should be careful to reflect this fact in the translation of this phrase. Some may say “the child that has been born to you,” “that child who has just been born to you,” or possibly simply “your child,” if this will be understood as referring back to the one born of the union between David and Bathsheba.

Shall die: some versions read “shall surely die” (New American Standard Bible), reflecting the Hebrew construction used here, in which two forms of the verb are put together for emphasis. This is the same kind of construction as discussed under the expression utterly scorned in this same verse. Here it emphasizes the certainty that the child will not live. New American Bible retains this emphasis by translating “must surely die,” and Fox says “he must die, yes, die.”

In some languages the structure of this verse will have to be reversed, indicating first that the child will die and then giving the reason.

Then: the transition word here indicates nothing more than the next step in a series of events. But this is also the final event in this part of the larger story.

It will be more natural in some languages to say that “Nathan went back home” or “Nathan returned to his house” (New American Bible).

The verse division is unfortunate here, since the second half of this verse is a part of the next episode. See the comments under verse 15b below.

And: if a new section is begun at this point, it will be unnecessary to provide an overt translation of the Hebrew conjunction here. The beginning of a new section and a new paragraph will be sufficient in many languages.

Struck the child: this should not be translated in such a way as to give the idea of a literal, physical blow. What it means is that the LORD made the child very sick. In many languages a single verb phrase may be used to translate this expression and became sick at the end of the verse.

Uriah’s wife: the writer continues to refer to Bathsheba as Uriah’s wife. This seems to have been done intentionally and is probably designed to insist on the fact that at the time of the conception of the child she was indeed still Uriah’s wife. Contemporary English Version refers to the child simply as “David’s young son,” which is, of course, correct, but the emphasis of the original seems to be weakened by such a rendering.

Some languages may say something like:

• The child delivered by the wife of Uriah after David got her pregnant, the LORD caused him to become very sick.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .