· Translation: KJV

2 Samuel 11:3David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

The setting

Jerusalem, Israel, ~1000 BC. David sends a messenger to gather information about the beautiful woman he saw. The answer comes back with devastating clarity: she's married to Uriah, one of his own elite warriors...

The emotion here: recording the point of no return with tragic foreshadowing

The original word

darash (דָּרַשׁ) — to seek out, inquire, investigate; implies purposeful pursuit of information

Why it matters

Uriah the Hittite was one of David's 'Thirty' - his most elite and loyal warriors

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 11:3

The response includes her father's name AND husband's name - emphasizing she belongs to other men

Common misconceptionPeople think David didn't know Bathsheba was married, but the text shows he deliberately inquired and was told she was 'the wife of Uriah' - he knew exactly what he was doing.

Bible Genome reading

2 Samuel 11:3 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability40%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance40%
Standalone30%
Themes:temptationinquiry

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:3 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include temptation, inquiry. Notable phrases: David sent and inquired; Bathsheba.

Your reflection

What does 2 Samuel 11:3 mean to you, today?

A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.

Speak your heart →

Get 3 verses for "seeking"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.