1 Chronicles 17 4

1 Chronicles 17:4 kjv

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

1 Chronicles 17:4 nkjv

"Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.

1 Chronicles 17:4 niv

"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in.

1 Chronicles 17:4 esv

"Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.

1 Chronicles 17:4 nlt

"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in.

1 Chronicles 17 verses

1 Chronicles 17 4 Meaning

1 Chronicles 17:4 relays God's direct message to King David through the prophet Nathan, firmly prohibiting David from building a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant. Despite David's noble desire and pure motives to house God's presence in a structure grander than a tent, God declares that it is not David's role to construct this "house." This divine declaration highlights God's sovereignty over human endeavors, even pious ones, and redirects David's attention from building a physical structure for God to God's promise of building an everlasting "house" (dynasty) for David.

1 Chronicles 17 4 Context

Chapter 17 of 1 Chronicles unfolds with King David expressing a devout desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, recognizing the incongruity of himself residing in a luxurious cedar palace while God's Ark remained in a tent. The prophet Nathan initially affirmed David's intent, believing it to be a good and righteous aspiration. However, during the ensuing night, the Lord revealed His true will to Nathan, which profoundly altered the situation. Verse 4 is the crucial pivot where Nathan delivers God's immediate and emphatic rejection of David's plan, serving as the first part of a larger divine message. This redirection lays the groundwork for the foundational Davidic Covenant, shifting the focus from David building a physical "house" for God to God building an everlasting "house" (dynasty) for David, which ultimately finds its climax in the Messiah. Historically, this moment is vital, as it delineates God's direct involvement in the architectural and dynastic future of Israel, affirming His ultimate control over even the most sacred undertakings.

1 Chronicles 17 4 Word analysis

• Go and tell (לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ - lek v'amarta): An imperative, direct command from God to Nathan. This signifies the urgency and absolute nature of the message to be delivered without alteration or delay. It highlights Nathan's role as a faithful messenger, emphasizing that the words are not his own, but God's.
• David My servant (לְדָוִד עַבְדִּי - l'david avdi):
  • David: The name signifies "beloved." He is a central figure, uniquely chosen by God.
  • My servant (avdi): This title denotes intimacy, trust, and divine appointment, placing David in the esteemed company of Abraham, Moses, and Job, who were also called God's servants. It conveys one entrusted with a divine mission and special relationship, despite human limitations or flaws. This high honor is distinct from general servitude.
• Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar Yahweh): This is the quintessential prophetic formula, underscoring the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It removes any doubt that the words are Nathan's own interpretation or human wisdom. "Yahweh" is God's covenantal name, emphasizing His personal, relational, and sovereign nature.
• You shall not build (לֹא אַתָּה תִּבְנֶה - lo attah tivneh):
  • You (attah): The emphatic personal pronoun specifically identifies David as the one prohibited from building. The issue is not that a temple won't be built, but that he is not the one designated for the task.
  • shall not build (lo tivneh): A strong and definitive negative command. This is not a slight on David's devotion but a sovereign reordering according to God's precise plan and timeline. Later biblical texts clarify one reason was David's extensive warfare and bloodshed (1 Chr 22:8; 1 Chr 28:3).
• Me a house (לִי בָּיִת - li bayit):
  • Me (li): Dative pronoun, indicating "for Myself."
  • a house (bayit): This word is strategically chosen because it carries a dual meaning throughout this passage and the parallel in 2 Samuel 7: both a literal "house" (temple, dwelling) and a figurative "house" (dynasty, family, lineage). God's ensuing message pivots on this word, promising to build David's "house" (dynasty) rather than David building God's physical "house."
• to dwell in (לְשָׁבֶת - l'shavet): Derived from the verb yashav, meaning "to sit, dwell, inhabit, remain." This emphasizes the purpose of the proposed "house" as a stable dwelling place. However, the subsequent verses highlight that God does not "need" a dwelling built by human hands to be present or to fulfill His purposes.

Words-group analysis:

• "Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD’": This entire opening phrase underscores the profound divine authority and specificity of the message. Nathan is a conduit, David is the designated recipient (honored as 'My servant'), and the message's source is the sovereign "LORD," leaving no room for negotiation or human alteration. It establishes a prophetic encounter of immense significance.
• "You shall not build Me a house to dwell in": This concise divine prohibition encapsulates God's prerogative. It's a statement of ultimate control, indicating that while human devotion is valued, God's plans operate independently and transcend human efforts, especially concerning His own dwelling and eternal purposes. This sentence also subtly hints at God's omnipresence, challenging the notion that He can be contained within any human-made structure, foreshadowing deeper theological truths about His nature.

1 Chronicles 17 4 Bonus Section

The rejection of David's temple plan carries an implicit polemic against ancient Near Eastern pagan concepts where deities were often seen as localized to and dependent on their temples. The God of Israel, Yahweh, demonstrates His transcendence and omnipresence; He does not need a dwelling made by humans, nor is He confined to one. He moves with His people in a tent (the Tabernacle), and ultimately His "dwelling" among them is primarily through His Spirit and covenant relationship, culminating in Christ. This underscores that God is not a regional deity but the sovereign Creator whose presence fills all space. This verse is the inception of the most significant Messianic prophecy, assuring a lasting "house" (dynasty) for David, pointing irrevocably towards Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic King, who would truly establish an everlasting spiritual "house" – His Church.

1 Chronicles 17 4 Commentary

1 Chronicles 17:4 captures a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative: God's surprising rejection of King David's heartfelt and pious ambition to build a permanent temple. This "no" from God is not a rebuke of David's good intentions or love, but a reassertion of divine sovereignty and a redirection towards a far greater promise. It signals that God's plans are not contingent upon human initiative, even well-meaning ones, but are rooted in His eternal counsel and perfect timing.

The immediate reason given in later chapters for David not building is his extensive bloodshed in war, signifying a separation between a king of warfare and a king of peace, Solomon, who would build the temple (1 Chr 22:8). Yet, the deeper theological message here, consistent with later New Testament declarations (Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24), is that God, being the Creator and sustainer of the universe, cannot be confined or adequately housed by anything made with human hands. His glory and presence transcend all physical structures.

This verse is fundamentally preparatory, setting the stage for God's grand revelation of the Davidic Covenant. The key concept lies in the dual meaning of "house" (bayit). While David intends a physical temple for God, God subsequently promises to build David a "house" – a perpetual dynasty that will culminate in the eternal reign of the Messiah. Thus, David's denied ambition ultimately ushers in the glorious promise of Christ's kingdom. God’s "no" here paves the way for a much larger and eternal "yes."

Examples:

• A "no" from God on a personal project might actually be a redirection to something greater He has planned.
• A pious endeavor, while well-intentioned, must align with God's ultimate will and character, not just human desire.
• God often provides in ways we don't expect or choose, demonstrating His sovereignty over our plans.