Nathan
Nathan, a prophet of God, served during the reigns of David and Solomon, offering guidance, confronting David's sin, and supporting Solomon's accession to the throne.
The name Nathan means “given; giving; rewarded”
MaleProphetUnited Monarchy eraOld Testament5 books37 verses
Summary
A prophet living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2 Samuel 7:2; only referred to as Nathan (נָתָן); father of Azariah, Zabud.
Glossary entries
Family members
Alternative names
- נָתָןNathan
Mentions
Includes 7 verses that refer to Nathan without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.
- …he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
- And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
- But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
- 2 Samuel 7:5Referred to, not named“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in?
- 2 Samuel 7:8Referred to, not namedNow then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
- So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.
- Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
- David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
- Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
- After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
- …and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.
- But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
- But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
- Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
- 1 Kings 1:12Referred to, not namedNow please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.
- 1 Kings 1:14Referred to, not namedThen, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”
- And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
- So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
- “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
- 1 Kings 1:26Referred to, not namedBut me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
- Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
- There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
- Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
- And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.
- Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
- Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
- After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
- And Nathan replied to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
- But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
- 1 Chronicles 17:4Referred to, not named“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build Me a house in which to dwell.
- 1 Chronicles 17:7Referred to, not namedNow then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
- So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.
- Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are indeed written in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer,
- As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?
- Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.
- For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.