1 Chronicles 17:13 kjv
I 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:
1 Chronicles 17:13 nkjv
I 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 who was before you.
1 Chronicles 17:13 niv
I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.
1 Chronicles 17:13 esv
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,
1 Chronicles 17:13 nlt
I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.
1 Chronicles 17 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:14 | I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son... | Parallel Davidic Covenant |
| Psa 2:7 | "You are My Son; Today I have begotten You." | Messianic Sonship |
| Heb 1:5 | "For to which of the angels did He ever say: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'?...'I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to Me a Son'?" | Fulfillment in Christ |
| Psa 89:26-28 | "You are my Father...I will make him My firstborn...My mercy I will keep for him forever..." | Everlasting covenant & mercy |
| Isa 55:3 | "...I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David." | Unchanging Davidic covenant |
| Jer 33:17 | "...David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." | Perpetuity of Davidic line |
| Luke 1:32-33 | "He will be great...and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David...And of His kingdom there will be no end." | Christ's eternal Davidic reign |
| Acts 2:30 | "...knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that He would set one of his descendants on his throne." | Resurrection confirms promise |
| Acts 13:34 | "And as for His raising Him from the dead...He has said thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’" | Christ is "sure mercies" |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "...Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king." | God withdrawing from Saul |
| 1 Sam 16:1 | "...I have rejected him from reigning over Israel." | Saul's kingship removed |
| 1 Sam 16:14 | "...But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him." | Removal of God's Spirit & favor |
| Psa 89:33-37 | "My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail..." | Covenant faithfulness reinforced |
| 2 Chr 6:14 | "...who keep Your covenant and Your mercy for Your servants..." | God's faithfulness to covenant |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "...And the government will be on His shoulder...Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end..." | Future Davidic Ruler |
| Rev 11:15 | "...The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ..." | Ultimate King from David's line |
| Zech 12:8 | "...the house of David shall be like God..." | Divine strength for David's house |
| Ezek 37:25 | "Then My servant David shall be king over them...and they shall walk in My judgments..." | Everlasting covenant of peace |
| Jer 23:5 | "...I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness..." | Righteous King from David's line |
| Dan 7:14 | "...His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away..." | Eternal Messianic Kingdom |
| Rom 1:3-4 | "...concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh..." | Jesus' Davidic lineage confirmed |
1 Chronicles 17 verses
1 Chronicles 17 13 Meaning
The verse conveys God's unwavering promise to King David regarding his lineage and the enduring nature of his kingdom. It establishes an intimate, covenantal "father-son" relationship between God and David's successor, assuring an unbreakable bond of divine favor and steadfast love. This pledge contrasts sharply with God's previous withdrawal of favor from King Saul, underscoring the permanence of the Davidic covenant and the unconditional nature of God's loyal love toward David's dynastic line. It points forward to a continuous lineage leading ultimately to the Messiah, whose kingdom would be eternal.
1 Chronicles 17 13 Context
First Chronicles chapter 17 is a pivotal chapter, parallel to 2 Samuel chapter 7. King David, having secured his kingdom and brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, expresses his desire to build a permanent temple for the Lord. However, through the prophet Nathan, God declines David's offer, stating that it is not for David to build Him a house. Instead, God promises to build David a "house," referring to an enduring dynasty and a continuous royal lineage. This passage records the formal establishment of the Davidic Covenant. Verse 13 specifically elaborates on the nature of this covenant: God's personal relationship with David's successor and His pledge of unfailing mercy. Historically, this promise cemented the position of David's descendants as the divinely appointed rulers of Israel, shaping Israelite theology and anticipation for centuries to come, focusing on the perpetuity of their kingship. The comparison with Saul highlights God's definitive establishment of the Davidic line as the perpetual one, replacing the temporary, conditional monarchy of Saul.
1 Chronicles 17 13 Word analysis
- I: Refers to God, Yahweh. This emphasizes divine initiative and absolute sovereignty. The "I" underscores that this is a direct, personal promise from God Himself, the ultimate King.
- will be his father,: (Hebrew: Av) Establishes a covenantal and intimate relationship between God and David's successor, deeper than merely King-to-subject. It signifies divine adoption, care, guidance, and authority over the future king. This father-son bond is both a privilege and a position of responsibility, denoting divine choice and legitimization of the dynasty.
- and he shall be My son;: (Hebrew: Ben) Completes the reciprocal relationship, defining the future king's unique status. As God's son, the king represents God on earth, inherits the kingdom, and benefits from divine protection. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate Son of God, the Messiah, who would inherit David's throne eternally.
- and I will not take My mercy away from him,: "Mercy" (Hebrew: chesed) is a key covenantal term meaning steadfast love, loyal kindness, or unfailing faithfulness. It denotes a profound and unwavering commitment from God within a covenant relationship. The declaration "I will not take...away" guarantees the enduring nature of God's covenant loyalty to David's dynasty, promising its continuation even if individual kings stumble.
- as I took it from him who was before you.: This provides a crucial contrast, clearly referring to King Saul. God rejected Saul's kingship and removed His Spirit and favor from him due to Saul's disobedience (1 Sam 15:23; 16:14). This clause assures David that, unlike Saul's provisional monarchy, his dynastic line will not be utterly rejected or deposed, highlighting the unconditional aspect of God's promise concerning the permanence of the Davidic throne.
- Word-Group Analysis:
- "I will be his father, and he shall be My son;": This pair of clauses forms the foundation of the Davidic Covenant, shifting kingship from merely human appointment to divine family relationship. It establishes a unique theological identity for Israel's monarchy, where the king acts as God's representative. This profound relationship transcends earthly power and grounds the future of the kingdom in God's paternal love and faithfulness.
- "and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.": This significant contrast emphasizes the unparalleled steadfastness of God's covenant with David. While Saul's reign was conditional on his obedience, David's dynasty is promised enduring mercy. This does not mean individual kings will not be chastised (as seen in 2 Sam 7:14 which includes a clause about punishment for iniquity, omitted here in Chronicles, highlighting Chronicles' focus on God's unwavering faithfulness), but God's chesed and the continuity of the line will prevail. It anchors the hope for Israel in God's fidelity, not human performance.
1 Chronicles 17 13 Bonus section
The Chronicler's choice to omit the disciplinary clause found in 2 Samuel 7:14 ("If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men") in 1 Chronicles 17:13 is highly significant. This textual difference highlights the theological focus of 1 Chronicles. While 2 Samuel acknowledges the reality of royal sin and its consequences for individual kings, 1 Chronicles prioritizes reinforcing God's unconditional faithfulness to the Davidic line, providing hope and emphasizing the perpetual nature of the Davidic promise despite human failings. This omission stresses that God's mercy will not be removed, assuring the audience (particularly post-exilic readers) that the Davidic covenant stands, leading to the ultimate expectation of a perpetual, sinless Davidic King, the Messiah. It reflects a theology of hope and divine commitment over immediate judgment on individual kings.
1 Chronicles 17 13 Commentary
1 Chronicles 17:13 is a foundational declaration within the Davidic Covenant, promising an eternal dynasty for David. It signifies a profound shift from a conditionally sustained kingship (like Saul's) to one guaranteed by God's own nature—His chesed, or unwavering covenant faithfulness. The divine "father-son" relationship transcends a typical monarchical rule, elevating the king to a uniquely favored position, a type of "adopted son" who represents God to the people. While this verse, unlike its parallel in 2 Samuel 7:14, notably omits the clause about disciplining the king if he commits iniquity, it highlights the unconditional permanence of God's mercy toward the Davidic line. This ensures that the dynasty will not be cut off, even through periods of royal sin. Ultimately, this promise finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Son" of God and "Son" of David, whose reign is truly eternal and whose kingdom will never end. The verse points to God's steadfast loyalty as the basis of Israel's enduring hope.