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2 Samuel 7:5

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

2 Samuel 7:5 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
English Standard Version (ESV)
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?
The Message Bible (MSG)
5 "Go and tell my servant David: This is God's word on the matter: You're going to build a 'house' for me to live in?
American Standard Version (ASV)
5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
5 "Say to my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one who will build me a house to live in?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
5 "Go to My servant David and say, 'This is what the Lord says: Are you to build a house for Me to live in?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
5 "Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, 'The LORD says, "Are you the one to build me a house to live in?

2 Samuel 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 7:5

Go and tell my servant David
The Lord speaks very honourably and respectfully of him, owns him to be his servant in other things, though he did not choose to employ him in this; and though he was not the person, nor this the time, to build the house of the Lord, yet, as he showed a good will towards it, so far it was acceptable to God:

thus saith the Lord, shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
no, thou shalt not, as appears from ( 1 Chronicles 17:4 ) ; which seems to be expressed with much spirit, and some degree of resentment, to resolve on such a work, without seeking to know his mind in it. Eupolemus F21 an Heathen, confirms this account, only instead of a prophet he speaks of an angel, whose name he says was Dinnathan, who, when David was desirous of building a temple for God, and very anxious to be shown the place where the altar was to be erected, this angel appeared to him; and, though he showed him the place for the altar, forbad him building it, because he was polluted with human blood, and had been engaged in wars many years, and bid him leave the building of it to his son.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Apud Euseb. Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447.

2 Samuel 7:5 In-Context

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Kings 8:19; 1 Chronicles 22:8
  • 2. 1 Kings 5:3-5; 1 Chronicles 28:3
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