2 Samuel 7:16-29

16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[a] ; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer

18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human!^[b]

20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign LORD.

21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?^[c]

24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

25 “And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,

26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.

27 “LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

2 Samuel 7:16-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 7

This chapter expresses David's concern for building an house for the ark of God, which he communicated to Nathan the prophet, and was approved of by him, 2Sa 7:1-3; and who was that night sent by the Lord to David, to acquaint him, that as he had for many years dwelt in a tent, and had never given directions to the tribes of Israel, and the rulers of them, to build him an house, so neither should David build him one; but his son that would succeed him in the throne should; and also observes to him the many great things he had done for him, and promises him more, and particularly the establishment of his throne and kingdom for ever, in which he has respect to the Messiah, that should spring from him, 2Sa 7:4-17. Then follows a prayer of David, in which he expresses the sense he had of the greatness and goodness of God, and of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him he had, returns him thanks for the promises he had made, and prays for the performance of them, 2Sa 7:18-29.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 89:36-37; S Luke 1:33
• 2. Psalms 9:7; Psalms 93:2; Psalms 103:19
• 3. S ver 13
• 4. S Exodus 3:11; 1 Samuel 18:18
• 5. Isaiah 55:8-9
• 6. Isaiah 38:15
• 7. John 21:17
• 8. S 1 Samuel 16:7
• 9. Psalms 48:1; Psalms 77:13; Psalms 86:10; Jeremiah 10:6
• 10. Deuteronomy 3:24
• 11. S Exodus 9:14
• 12. S Exodus 8:10; S Exodus 20:4; Exodus 15:11
• 13. Exodus 10:2; S Judges 6:13; Psalms 44:1
• 14. Deuteronomy 4:32-38; S Deuteronomy 33:29; S 1 Samuel 12:22
• 15. S Numbers 6:27
• 16. Deuteronomy 10:21
• 17. Deuteronomy 7:7-8; S Deuteronomy 9:26; Deuteronomy 15:15
• 18. Deuteronomy 26:18
• 19. Exodus 6:6-7; Psalms 48:14
• 20. S ver 15; S Numbers 23:19; 2 Chronicles 1:9
• 21. S Exodus 6:3; Nehemiah 9:5; Psalms 72:19; Psalms 96:8; Matthew 6:9
• 22. S 1 Samuel 25:28
• 23. Exodus 34:6; John 17:17
• 24. Numbers 6:23-27

Footnotes

• [a] Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts "you"
• [b] Or "for the human race"
• [c] See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew "wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods" .