NATHAN nā’ thən (נָתָ֖ן, gift; LXX Ναθάν, G3719; NT Ναθάμ, G3718, Natham or Ναθάν, G3719). The name of several persons in the OT including one of David’s sons, and also a prophet from David’s time.

1. A son of David (2 Sam 5:14; 1 Chron 3:5; 14:4). This Nathan was an older brother of Solomon and one of several of Bathsheba’s children born to David. In Luke 3:31 the Davidic kingly line is traced through this son. This Nathan is also pictured as having a part in Israel’s future eschatological events (Zech 12:12).

2. Nathan the prophet. He figures in three important events in David’s life. In 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles Nathan, the prophet of David’s court is introduced as one who at first encourages the king in his desire to build a temple for the Lord (2 Sam 7:1-3; 1 Chron 17:1, 2), but then, following a message from God at night, the prophet counters with the Lord’s word that David is not to build the structure. The reasons given for this denial are that God has not before required nor asked for such a sanctuary (2 Sam 7:4-7; 1 Chron 22:6-16). Furthermore, the Lord, who has led David thus far and given him a kingdom, has His own plans for permanently establishing David’s kingdom through his seed, which includes Solomon who will have the responsibility for building the physical temple (2 Sam 7:8-16; 1 Chron 17:7-16).

At a later time, Nathan confronts the king with his sins of adultery, murder, and falsehood committed against Uriah, the Hitt., and his wife, Bathsheba, by presenting to the king for his decision a fictional legal case involving a rich man’s appropriation of a poor man’s ewe lamb in order to feed a visitor (2 Sam 12:1-4). When David announced his verdict of death for the offender, then Nathan reveals that what he really means to teach by the story is that the king himself is the guilty one in having appropriated another man’s wife and life. Therefore, the Lord will bring judgment on David (2 Sam 12:5-9). Verses 9 to 12, far from implying the work of a redactor reflecting on David’s later life (as some scholars suggest; see IB, 2 Sam 12:9), set forth the multiple punishment that can follow a sin such as David’s. The king is told that he will experience murder and adulterous action (following the example of his own acts) in his own family, undoubtedly referring to the future acts of his sons Amnon in his fornication (2 Sam 13:1-20), and Absalom in killing Amnon (2 Sam 13:21-29), and in committing insurrection and adultery against his father (2 Sam 16:20-23; 20:3). An additional punishment for David’s sins was the death of the baby which was to be born as a result of the adulterous union of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:10-23).

When David repented of his sin, Nathan assured him that God had forgiven him (2 Sam 12:13). Psalm 51, which records David’s repentance, mentions Nathan in the title.

Again, when Adonijah tries to usurp the throne at the time when David is old and feeble, Nathan with Bathsheba reminds the king that he had promised the throne to Solomon and, at David’s command, helps in making it public that Solomon is successor to the throne (1 Kings 1:10-45).

Nathan is mentioned also as having aided in the establishment of music in the Temple worship (2 Chron 29:25) and as having recounted the acts of David (1 Chron 29:29) and Solomon (2 Chron 9:29) in the Book of Nathan, the prophet.

3. Nathan of Zobahis the father of Igal, one of David’s warriors (2 Sam 23:36), or possibly a brother of Joel (1 Chron 11:38).

4. Nathan, a descendant of Judah,in the clan of Jerahmeel, son of Attai and father of Zabad (1 Chron 2:36).

5. Nathan, a leading Jew of the company who helped Ezrain the return to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:16, 17); who also may be the same Nathan who had taken a foreign wife (10:39).

6. The Nathan of 1 Kings 4:5,the father of officers in Solomon’s court is prob. either Nathan the prophet or the son of David.

Bibliography C. F. Keil, F. Delitzsch, The Books of Samuel (1956), 322ff.; J. M. Myers, 1 Chronicles, Anchor Bible (1965), 124-127.