The big picture
1 Chronicles 17 opens in verse 1 with “Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be…”, and closes in verse 27 with “Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be…” Repeated or prominent terms include house, LORD, Israel, servant, David. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 271 Chronicles 17:1-7
1–7: It came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan…
1 Chronicles 17:1–7 opens with “Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I…” and reaches “Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David receiving the covenant promise through Nathan and responding in humble prayer, with particular weight carried by David, house, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
“Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 17:1-7
King James Version1Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.
2Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.
3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD , Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:
5For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
6Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
1 Chronicles 17:8-14
8–14: I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off…
1 Chronicles 17:8–14 opens with “And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies…” and reaches “But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David receiving the covenant promise through Nathan and responding in humble prayer, with particular weight carried by house, build, enemies.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include name, earth, enemies. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Chronicles 17:8-14
King James Version8And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
9Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
10And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.
11And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
13I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
14But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
1 Chronicles 17:15-21
15–21: According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did…
1 Chronicles 17:15–21 opens with “According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” and reaches “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David receiving the covenant promise through Nathan and responding in humble prayer, with particular weight carried by LORD, David, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” Naming According and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David the king came and sat before the LORD , and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
1 Chronicles 17:15-21
King James Version15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
16And David the king came and sat before the LORD , and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
17And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
18What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
19O LORD , for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20O LORD , there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
1 Chronicles 17:22-27
22–27: For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and…
1 Chronicles 17:22–27 opens with “For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD , becamest their…” and reaches “Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David receiving the covenant promise through Nathan and responding in humble prayer, with particular weight carried by servant, LORD, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD , becamest their God.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore now, LORD , let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Chronicles 17:22-27
King James Version22For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD , becamest their God.
23Therefore now, LORD , let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.
24Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
25For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.
26And now, LORD , thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
27Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD , and it shall be blessed for ever.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 17:1 begins with “Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 17:14 forms a natural hinge: “But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.”
The final note
1 Chronicles 17:27 leaves the reader with “Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD , and it shall be…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words house, LORD, Israel, servant, David, people help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the covenant promise besides descendants?
Kings, land and an enduring relationship in which God is their God.
How are Isaac and Ishmael distinguished without erasing either?
Isaac carries the named covenant line; Ishmael is heard and promised fruitfulness and twelve princes.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.