1 Chronicles 17 16

1 Chronicles 17:16 kjv

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 hast brought me hitherto?

1 Chronicles 17:16 nkjv

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

1 Chronicles 17:16 niv

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

1 Chronicles 17:16 esv

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

1 Chronicles 17:16 nlt

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

1 Chronicles 17 verses

1 Chronicles 17 16 Meaning

This verse captures King David's profound prayer of humility and gratitude following the revelation of the everlasting covenant God made with him through the prophet Nathan. It expresses David's overwhelmed sense of unworthiness in light of God's astonishing grace and immense promises, acknowledging that his past achievements and future hope are entirely due to divine initiative and unmerited favor, not his own merit or lineage.

1 Chronicles 17 16 Context

Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles is a pivotal passage, detailing the establishment of the Davidic Covenant. David, seeing himself living in a house of cedar while the ark of God resided in a tent, felt moved to build a grand temple for the LORD. However, God, through the prophet Nathan, conveyed a surprising and profoundly significant message: God would not permit David to build Him a house of stone, but instead, God Himself would build David an enduring "house"—a lasting dynasty. This divine promise extends beyond David's immediate reign, assuring him of a lineage, a throne, and a kingdom that would be established forever, culminating in the eternal reign of the Messiah. Verse 16 is David's immediate, awe-filled response to this staggering revelation, expressed in humble worship and deep gratitude before the presence of the LORD. His words reflect astonishment at God's overwhelming grace and an honest self-assessment of his own unworthiness compared to such an extraordinary promise.

1 Chronicles 17 16 Word analysis

• Then King David went in and sat before the LORD:
  • "Then King David went in": Implies an intentional act of approaching God's presence, likely into the tent (tabernacle) that housed the ark of the covenant, which David had brought to Jerusalem. This marks a private and intimate moment between David and God.
  • "and sat" (yashav, יָשַׁב): While "sitting" often implies rest, here in a context of intense prayer, it can denote a posture of meditation, contemplation, and deep reception. Unlike standing (for intercession) or kneeling (for petition), sitting suggests remaining, dwelling, and an unhurried, sustained engagement with God's word, absorbing the magnitude of the covenant just revealed. It conveys reverence and perhaps a state of humble wonder and overwhelm that required him to sit.
  • "before the LORD" (lifnei YHWH, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה): Denotes being directly in God's presence, likely facing the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized God's manifest presence among His people. It emphasizes direct, unmediated communion with the Almighty.
• and he said, "Who am I, O LORD God":
  • "Who am I" (mi anokhi, מִי אָנֹכִי): This is an emphatic question conveying profound humility, self-abasement, and a sense of utter unworthiness. It’s an exclamation of astonishment, not a rhetorical question expecting an answer, but a declaration of his own smallness and inadequacy. David, though king, recognizes his absolute dependence and nothingness before the Creator.
  • "O LORD God" (YHWH Elohim, יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים): A significant compound divine title. "YHWH" (Lord) emphasizes God's covenantal faithfulness, His personal name revealed to Israel, highlighting His commitment to His promises. "Elohim" (God) emphasizes His sovereignty, power, and universal dominion as Creator. David addresses God as both his covenant Keeper and the omnipotent Ruler.
• "and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far?":
  • "and what is my house" (u-mah beiti, וּמָה בֵּיתִי): David extends his self-evaluation from his person ("who am I?") to his family, lineage, or royal dynasty ("my house"). He acknowledges that neither his personal qualities nor his familial background (a shepherd, the youngest of Jesse's sons, initially overlooked) could warrant such an extraordinary promise of an eternal dynasty.
  • "that You have brought me thus far?" (ki heva'tanu ad halom, כִּי הֵבֵאתַנִי עַד־הֲלֹם): The phrase means "because you have caused me to come to this point" or "that you have brought me up to this." It reflects on God's divine guidance and providence throughout David's life. "Thus far" encapsulates his journey from tending sheep to kingship, deliverance from Saul, success in battles, establishment in Jerusalem, and now, the mind-boggling covenant promise of an enduring kingdom. It underscores that every step of his rise was by God's leading, not his own making.

1 Chronicles 17 16 Bonus section

The almost identical wording in 2 Samuel 7:18 and 1 Chronicles 17:16 highlights the centrality and enduring significance of David's prayer. While the Chronicler generally aims to show David in a more positive light, he preserves the humility of this response, indicating its universal theological importance beyond any specific agenda. David’s acknowledgment here lays the foundation for understanding the unilateral nature of God's covenant: it is a divine undertaking based solely on His own character and purpose, not on David's obedience or achievements. This paves the way for a deeper appreciation of the unconditional aspects of the Davidic covenant and its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, where God's promises are fully realized not through human striving, but through His Son.

1 Chronicles 17 16 Commentary

This verse is a profound theological statement wrapped in a humble prayer. David's posture of sitting before the Lord signifies deep reverence and meditative absorption of God's astonishing grace. His words "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house?" capture the essence of biblical humility – a realistic self-assessment in light of God's immense holiness, power, and unmerited favor. He is not merely feigning modesty; he is genuinely overwhelmed that God, the sovereign LORD, would make such a magnificent, eternal promise to someone as seemingly insignificant and from as humble a background as he. David rightly understands that his elevated status, past successes, and glorious future (both for himself and his lineage culminating in the Messiah) are entirely a gift of God's sovereign will and steadfast love. This verse beautifully portrays the proper human response to divine grace: profound gratitude, awe, and an unwavering recognition of God's initiative and faithfulness. It exemplifies living out of God's grace rather than human merit, teaching that God blesses not according to our worthiness but according to His own perfect wisdom and abundant love.