In brief
Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah the Hittite, then of David, and the mother of Solomon. Her story begins with the grave sin of King David, who has her brought to him and then has her husband killed. The prophet Nathan confronts David, who acknowledges his sin and receives Yahweh's forgiveness, while still bearing consequences. Later, Bathsheba gives birth to Solomon, who will become king. Her story speaks both of the seriousness of sin and of the grace of God who lifts up.
What does the name Bathsheba mean?
The name Bathsheba is generally linked to the Hebrew expression “daughter of seven” or “daughter of the oath,” but its exact meaning remains debated. The Bible specifies that she is the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3).
The story of Bathsheba
David sends for her
2 Samuel 11:1-5While the army is on campaign, David stays in Jerusalem. He sees a very beautiful woman, learns that she is Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, sends for her and lies with her. She returns home, then lets David know that she is pregnant.
The death of Uriah
2 Samuel 11:6-27David calls Uriah back to try to cover his sin, but Uriah refuses to go home. David then writes to Joab to expose him in battle, and Uriah is killed. After the mourning, David takes Bathsheba as his wife, but what he has done displeases Yahweh.
Nathan confronts David
2 Samuel 12:1-15Yahweh sends the prophet Nathan, who tells David the story of a rich man who takes a poor man's one lamb. David is enraged, then Nathan tells him that this man is him. David acknowledges that he has sinned against Yahweh and receives forgiveness, but the child born of this union falls ill.
The death of the child and the birth of Solomon
2 Samuel 12:15-25The child born of this union dies despite David's fasting. David rises, washes, worships Yahweh in his house, then eats again, to the surprise of his servants. He comforts Bathsheba, his wife. She then bears another son, Solomon, whom Yahweh loves, and Nathan names him Jedidiah, because of Yahweh.
She intervenes for Solomon
1 Kings 1:11-31When David is old, his son Adonijah proclaims himself king. Nathan advises Bathsheba to remind David of his promise that Solomon would reign. She appears before the king, who swears that Solomon will be king after him, and she bows before him.
The queen mother
1 Kings 2:13-25After Solomon's accession, Adonijah asks Bathsheba to plead for him with the king. Solomon rises when she arrives, bows before her, has her sit at his right hand, then refuses Adonijah's request, swearing by Yahweh that Adonijah has spoken against his own life. Adonijah is later put to death.
What Bathsheba teaches us
- Sin often begins in a season when one should have been somewhere else; vigilance protects as much as strength does.
- A wrong cannot be hidden: God sees, sends Nathan, and calls for truth rather than cover-up.
- God's forgiveness is real and complete, but it does not always erase the concrete consequences.
- God can bring good out of broken situations: Solomon comes from the same union that began in sin.
- A contrite and honest heart draws grace more surely than any justification.
Key verses
The account ends with a plain verdict: what David had done displeased Yahweh. The Bible does not downplay sin, even that of the most beloved king of Israel.
David acknowledges that he has sinned against Yahweh, and Nathan tells him that Yahweh forgives his sin. This verse is one of the clearest on the link between sincere repentance and divine grace.
Bathsheba bears Solomon, whom Yahweh loves. Nathan calls him Jedidiah because of Yahweh. God's grace is expressed in the birth of a son who will be the next king of Israel.
Sermons about Bathsheba
- David, Bathsheba, and Nathan: "You Are the Man!"This sermon follows the story of David, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan, and the word that confronts the king with his own sin.
- 20 Bible Verses About RepentanceA selection of verses on repentance, helpful for reading David's attitude before Nathan.
- 25 Bible Verses About ForgivenessTwenty-five verses on God's forgiveness, which shed light on Yahweh's response to David.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bathsheba in the Bible?
Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite, then the wife of King David and the mother of Solomon. The Bible tells how David had her brought to him, then how the prophet Nathan confronted him. She later plays a role in Solomon's accession.
What does the name Bathsheba mean?
The name is generally linked to the Hebrew expression “daughter of seven” or “daughter of the oath,” but its exact meaning remains debated. The Bible gives no explanation of the name: it simply states her parentage and her first husband.
Where can I find Bathsheba's story in the Bible?
Her story is in 2 Samuel 11 and 12: David's sin, the death of Uriah and the birth of Solomon. She appears again in 1 Kings 1 and 2, when she intervenes so that Solomon will reign and then receives Adonijah's request.