What Does 2 Samuel 11:12 Mean in the King James?

And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

2 Samuel 11:12 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The promised release remains in the future while the narration twice keeps Uriah in place.

THE MEANING

David (⁨דָּוִד⁩, Dawid, “the beloved”) promises to send Uriah (⁨אוּרִיָּה⁩, Uriyyah, “YHWH is my light”) tomorrow, while Uriah remains in Jerusalem (⁨יְרוּשָׁלַיִם⁩, Yerushalayim, carrying the two wholenesses) through the next day. The scene speaks now in the gap between promised release and actual departure: a person can be told they will be sent away while still remaining where they are.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A promised departure is not the same as an actual departure.

THE ROOT

אֲשַׁלְּחֶךָ

ʾashalleḥakha

GROWS FROM

שׁלח

To send forth, release, or let go.

“let thee depart” in this verse is ʾashalleḥakha. The verb carries both sending someone away and releasing them. Here, that release is promised for tomorrow, so its timing remains in David’s hands while Uriah stays.

ALSO GROWS

shaliach: One who is sent.

שָׁלִיחַ

The messenger carries the root’s sense of being sent forth from another.

shilluach: A sending away or dismissal.

שִׁלּוּחַ

This branch makes the release sense in David’s promise audible.

שֵׁב

shev wayyeshev

GROWS FROM

ישב

To sit, remain, or dwell.

“Tarry; abode” in this verse is shev wayyeshev. The same root appears first in David’s instruction and then in the narration of Uriah’s response. The promise to send is framed by the repeated fact of staying.

ALSO GROWS

yashav: To sit down, remain, or dwell.

יָשַׁב

It holds together the instruction to stay and Uriah’s continued presence.

moshav: A dwelling place or settlement.

מוֹשָׁב

The branch extends remaining into the place where someone stays.

יְרוּשָׁלַיִם

Yerushalayim

GROWS FROM

שלם

Wholeness or completeness; the name carries the two wholenesses.

“Jerusalem” in this verse is Yerushalayim. The place-name carries the language of shalom, wholeness, in a twofold form. Uriah’s continued stay within that name gives the setting another register while the verse keeps the promise of sending beside the fact of remaining.

ALSO GROWS

shalom: Wholeness.

שָׁלוֹם

This is the familiar form of the name’s root-language.

shalem: Whole or complete.

שָׁלֵם

This branch makes the root’s sense of completeness explicit.

THE PATTERN

Sending someone forth is release, and until the sending happens, a promised departure can remain deferred.

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 5:1 · KJVThe command uses ⁨שָׁלַח⁩ (shalach, “send or release”): sending the people forth is their release from being held.

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Deuteronomy 15:13 · KJVThe same root is rendered “sendest him out free,” making departure and release part of one act.

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

John 9:7 · KJVThe pool’s name echoes ⁨שִׁלֹחַ⁩ (Shiloach, “sent”); the man goes forth as directed and returns seeing.

THE THREAD

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

Deuteronomy 15:13 · KJV

The same root, ⁨שׁלח⁩ (shalach, “send forth or release”), is joined here to the words “out free.” That makes the distinction in 2 Samuel visible: David promises a future sending, while Uriah is still staying.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us