The big picture
2 Samuel 7 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away…”, and closes in verse 29 with “Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, house, Israel, servant, people. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 292 Samuel 7:1-8
1–8: It came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given…
2 Samuel 7:1–8 opens with “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about…” and reaches “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David seated before the Lord after Nathan delivers the covenant promise, with particular weight carried by house, Israel, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.” Naming Nathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 7:1-8
King James Version1And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
4And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD , Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
2 Samuel 7:9-16
9–16: I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine…
2 Samuel 7:9–16 opens with “And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy…” and reaches “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David seated before the Lord after Nathan delivers the covenant promise, with particular weight carried by house, kingdom, name.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made…” The line’s distinctive content terms include name, earth, enemies. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
2 Samuel 7:9-16
King James Version9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
10Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
2 Samuel 7:17-24
17–24: According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did…
2 Samuel 7:17–24 opens with “According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.” and reaches “For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David seated before the Lord after Nathan delivers the covenant promise, with particular weight carried by LORD, people, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 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 this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD ; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great…” 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.
“For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Samuel 7:17-24
King James Version17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD , and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD ? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD ; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD ?
20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD , knowest thy servant.
21For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD , art become their God.
2 Samuel 7:25-29
25–29: Now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant…
2 Samuel 7:25–29 opens with “And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his…” and reaches “Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on David seated before the Lord after Nathan delivers the covenant promise, with particular weight carried by servant, house, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 7:25-29
King James Version25And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28And now, O Lord GOD , thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD , hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 7:1 begins with “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 7:15 forms a natural hinge: “But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.”
The final note
2 Samuel 7:29 leaves the reader with “Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD , hast spoken it: and…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, house, Israel, servant, people, David help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What links this event with creation?
Waters overwhelm the inhabited world, reversing the separations that made life possible.
What details show continuity rather than total abandonment?
The named household and preserved kinds of living creatures survive within the ark.
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.