Who was Nathan in the Bible?

from the old testament

• Nathan was a prophet during the time of King David (2 Samuel 7:2). He is best known as the one through whom God rebuked David for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband (2 Samuel 11). He did this through a story of a rich man not wanting to use his own flock, killing and eating a poor man’s only lamb, who was also his pet (2 Samuel 12:1–12). That enraged David, and he wanted to kill the rich man. Nathan then revealed that David was like the rich man, stealing another’s wife, and deserved death. David repented, and God relented from killing him, but pronounced judgment for David’s sin by killing the son he had conceived with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:13–15).
• Before the Bathsheba event, God also used Nathan to bring David good news. David wanted to build a house for God, and Nathan initially approved without consulting God (2 Samuel 7:1–3). But that night, God corrected Nathan, telling him to tell David that God had not asked him to build a house and that it was not David’s place to make that decision (2 Samuel 7:4–7). However, God promised David that He would make him a house after giving him rest from his enemies (2 Samuel 7:11). He then told David through Nathan that after David died, God would allow Solomon to build a house for Him (2 Samuel 7:12–13a). He also promised to establish Solomon’s kingdom forever through his descendants (2 Samuel 7:13b). That promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus (cf. Luke 1:32–33).
• In addition to these accounts, there is a reference to “the history of Nathan the prophet” as a written account of Solomon’s life (2 Chronicles 9:29). It’s uncertain, but Nathan may have written a historical book that was not considered canonical but was still historically useful.

from the new testament

• Nathan is not found in the New Testament.

implications for today

Nathan had a unique role in Scripture as a prophet to David, and we do not share a similar calling. However, from Nathan's accounts, we learn, by implication, what our character should be.

A key observation about Nathan is that he was willing to confront the king when the king was wrong, showing that Nathan trusted God rather than fearing the king. God also calls us to stand for the truths He has revealed in Scripture. It’s easy to stand for truths that don’t offend or confront people, but it takes men and women of character to stand for what those around us hate. Let us be faithful to hold God’s truth above what the world thinks, so God can work through us to show the world its sin and need for a Savior.

God also used Nathan to reveal something of His own heart. When Saul sinned, God rightly punished him by removing the kingdom (1 Samuel 15:22–23). However, when David sinned and genuinely repented, God moderated His judgment (2 Samuel 12:13). David’s sin still brought necessary consequences, as do our sins. But for those who are truly repentant, God tempers His judgment with mercy.

God can be merciful while still being just because He sent His Son to pay the full penalty sin deserves (Romans 3:25–26). We first receive God’s mercy when we repent and trust in Jesus as our Savior (Acts 20:21). Then, as believers, when we continue to repent, God continues to forgive us. Our sin may still have consequences, because God disciplines believers to train them to obey (Hebrews 12:6–11). But His mercy means we will never again face His eternal wrath because Jesus faced it for us.