1 Chronicles 17:23 kjv
Therefore 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.
1 Chronicles 17:23 nkjv
"And now, O LORD, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as You have said.
1 Chronicles 17:23 niv
"And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised,
1 Chronicles 17:23 esv
And now, O LORD, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken,
1 Chronicles 17:23 nlt
"And now, O LORD, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever.
1 Chronicles 17 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 17:11 | "...I will raise up your offspring after you, who will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom." | God's promise to David for a dynasty. |
| 1 Chr 17:12 | "He is the one who will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever." | God's promise of an enduring throne. |
| 1 Chr 17:14 | "but I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.” | Divine assurance of eternal dynasty and throne. |
| 2 Sam 7:12 | "When your days are fulfilled...I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." | Parallel promise of a future king. |
| 2 Sam 7:16 | "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me. Your throne shall be established forever." | Direct parallel, stressing eternal establishment. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" | God's immutable faithfulness to His word. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.'" | Divine oath regarding David's seed and throne. |
| Ps 89:28 | "My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and My covenant will stand firm for him." | God's enduring love and steadfast covenant. |
| Ps 89:34 | "I will not violate My covenant or alter the word that went forth from My lips." | God's word is unchanging and will not be broken. |
| Ps 132:11 | "The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: 'One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.'" | Confirmation of God's unbreakable oath. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born...and the government will be upon His shoulder...Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom..." | Prophetic fulfillment of the Davidic covenant in Messiah's eternal reign. |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word will always achieve its intended purpose. |
| Jer 33:17 | "For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." | Prophetic affirmation of the continuous Davidic line. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." | Angel Gabriel's annunciation confirming Jesus as the eternal Davidic King. |
| Acts 2:29-30 | "...David, being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that He would set one of his descendants on his throne..." | Peter affirms David's prophetic understanding of his dynastic promise. |
| Acts 13:34 | "And as for the fact that He raised Him from the dead...I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David." | Resurrection of Jesus linked to the sure blessings promised to David. |
| Rom 1:3 | "...concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh." | Jesus' human lineage through David as fulfillment. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." | Jesus' own declaration as the heir and fulfillment of Davidic promises. |
| Heb 10:23 | "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." | God's faithfulness encourages unwavering trust. |
| 1 Pet 4:19 | "Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." | Entrusting to a faithful God who keeps promises. |
1 Chronicles 17 verses
1 Chronicles 17 23 Meaning
First Chronicles 17:23 is David’s prayer of earnest petition, asking the Lord to affirm and fulfill the promise He has just spoken regarding the establishment of David’s house and kingdom eternally. It reflects David’s faith in God's faithfulness and his desire for God's divine word to be made secure and to come to pass precisely as declared.
1 Chronicles 17 23 Context
Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles focuses on God's covenant with David. Initially, David expresses a desire to build a temple for the Lord. However, through the prophet Nathan, God clarifies that it is He who will build David a "house"—a lasting dynasty—rather than David building a house of cedar for Him. This divine promise (1 Chr 17:11-14, paralleling 2 Sam 7) outlines an enduring line of kings descending from David, a perpetually established kingdom, and an everlasting throne. David’s response in verses 16-27 is a prayer of humble thanksgiving and an earnest plea for God to act according to the promises given. Verse 23 is a direct request from David to God, asking that the divine decree be made steadfast forever, thus seeking the active manifestation of God’s covenant word. This underscores the Chronicler's primary aim: to highlight God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, particularly the Davidic line, which prefigures the Messiah.
1 Chronicles 17 23 Word analysis
- "And now": (Wə‘attâ, וְעַתָּה) This serves as a common transitional phrase in Hebrew, marking a shift from listening to a divine message (God's promise) to responding in prayer. It indicates immediacy and a solemn turn towards direct address to God, building upon the preceding revelation.
- "O Lord": (YHWH, יְהוָה) The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existence, His eternal nature, and His absolute faithfulness to His covenant. David appeals directly to the Sovereign God who has revealed Himself and His will.
- "let the word": (dāvār, דָּבָר) Refers to a divine utterance, a promise, or decree. It is not just an empty sound but carries divine authority and power, having come forth from the very mouth of God. It signifies the revealed truth and intention of God.
- "that You have spoken": Emphasizes the divine origin and initiative of the promise. The power and certainty of the "word" stem entirely from God as the Speaker, confirming its reliability and truthfulness.
- "concerning Your servant": Refers to David himself. It highlights his identity as one consecrated to God's service and humble submission. Despite being king, David sees himself as God's instrument.
- "and concerning his house": (bêt, בַּיִת) In this context, "house" signifies dynasty, lineage, or family line, rather than a physical building. The promise extends beyond David's personal life to his descendants, signifying a perpetual royal family.
- "be established": (nāḵōn, נָכוֹן) From the root "kun" (כּוּן), meaning to be firm, stable, confirmed, or prepared. It conveys a strong sense of certainty, permanence, and being firmly set in place, as if made unshakable.
- "forever": (le‘ôlām, לְעוֹלָם) An emphatic term for perpetuity, eternity, or for an indefinite future time. It transcends human generations and points towards a never-ending duration, ultimately finding its fulfillment in the eternal reign of Christ.
- "and do": (wə‘aśēh, וַעֲשֵׂה) A direct imperative from the root "‘āśâ" (עָשָׂה), meaning to act, make, perform, or bring to pass. This is a petition for God to actively implement His promise, transforming His word into accomplished reality.
- "as You have spoken": This phrase ties God's future action directly to His preceding verbal promise. It's a prayer of faith that God will prove true to His own declaration, performing exactly what He has said.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And now, O Lord, let the word that You have spoken": This opening sets a tone of earnest, immediate prayer, addressing God directly concerning a specific, divinely revealed message. It signifies a humble human response to God's majestic word.
- "concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever": This segment clearly identifies the beneficiaries and the enduring nature of the promise. The promise pertains not just to David, but to his entire dynasty, emphasizing an eternal royal lineage destined for stability.
- "and do as You have spoken": This is a powerful, concise plea for divine action. It reflects David's complete trust that God is capable and faithful to fulfill every detail of His own declaration, demonstrating his conviction that God's word is efficacious.
1 Chronicles 17 23 Bonus section
- The prayer highlights the fundamental theological truth that God's word is not inert but possesses inherent power to accomplish its intended purpose (Isa 55:11). David's petition is an act of aligning himself with God's announced will.
- This verse subtly underscores the unconditional nature of the Davidic covenant in terms of the endurance of the dynasty, even though individual kings within that line might experience conditional discipline based on their obedience. The "forever" refers to the covenant's immutability regarding the Davidic house's continued existence as a royal line, ultimately pointing to Christ.
- David's desire to build God a "house" (temple) is answered by God's promise to build David a "house" (dynasty). This is a reversal, showing divine grace: God is the giver, not merely the receiver, and His gifts far surpass human aspirations.
1 Chronicles 17 23 Commentary
1 Chronicles 17:23 captures David's deep reverence and trust in the character of God, particularly in His faithfulness to His own spoken word. Upon hearing the unparalleled promise that God would establish an eternal dynasty through him, David does not claim credit or presume on his own merit. Instead, he petitions God to actively bring this extraordinary "word" to pass. This prayer is more than a mere request; it is an act of humble submission and faith, acknowledging that the establishment of his "house" is entirely contingent upon God's initiative and power, not on human effort or virtue. The repeated emphasis on "forever" in God's promise (1 Chr 17:12, 14) and in David's prayer signifies the eternal, unbreaking nature of this covenant. While immediate fulfillments were seen in Solomon's reign and subsequent Davidic kings, the "forever" truly finds its ultimate and complete realization in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom is without end. David’s prayer is thus both a specific petition for his immediate descendants and a prophetic cry for the promised, eternal Davidic Ruler.