Nathan (Hebrew: נתן, Modern: Natan, Tiberian: Nāṯān) was the youngest son among four or five children born to King David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem if names were written in order in the Bible (besides Solomon).

[1] He was a younger brother of Shammuah (sometimes referred to as Shammua or Shimea) and Shobab, and Solomon who was the second oldest child of Bathsheba.

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, Nathan is referred to when listing the sons of David.

In 1 Kings 4:5 it states "Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the district governors;"[3] when listing the chief officials of Israel under the reign of Solomon.

In the New Testament, the genealogy of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke traces Jesus' lineage back to King David through the line of Nathan,[4] while the Gospel of Matthew traces it through Solomon, the line of Joseph, his legal father.

"[9] One other explanation frequently proposed by modern scholars is that biblical genealogy is often based on theology rather than factual history.

It is therefore possible that he was called Shimea (or Shammua 1 Chronicles 14:4, and 2 Samuel 5:5 ) but equally possible, more likely even, that this is a surviving son, although the Bible does not mention him again.

"There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet—nine in all.