1 Chronicles 17 5

1 Chronicles 17:5 kjv

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

1 Chronicles 17:5 nkjv

For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

1 Chronicles 17:5 niv

I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.

1 Chronicles 17:5 esv

For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling.

1 Chronicles 17:5 nlt

I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another in a Tabernacle.

1 Chronicles 17 verses

1 Chronicles 17 5 Meaning

This verse communicates God's response to King David's desire to build Him a permanent temple. It reveals that God has never resided in a fixed house since leading Israel out of Egypt. Instead, He has continually accompanied His people, dwelling in mobile structures like tents and the Tabernacle. This emphasizes God's immanence – His dynamic and present engagement with His people – while also underscoring His transcendence; He is not confined to or in need of human-built structures, unlike pagan deities who were believed to be localized in their temples. God's dwelling in a tent demonstrated His solidarity with Israel's nomadic and journeying existence, symbolizing His perpetual readiness to be with them wherever they went.

1 Chronicles 17 5 Context

First Chronicles chapter 17 presents Nathan's prophecy to King David, following David's earnest desire to build a magnificent permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, which was currently housed in a tent. David felt it improper for him to live in a grand palace while God's symbol resided in a temporary dwelling (1 Chr 17:1). This verse is God's direct, initial response conveyed through the prophet Nathan. Rather than simply rejecting David's proposal, God reminds David of His nature and His relationship with Israel from the time of the Exodus. God clarifies that He has always been with His people in a mobile fashion, challenging the anthropocentric notion that He needed a stationary temple. This sets the stage for God's profound promise in the verses that follow: not that David would build God a "house," but that God would build David an eternal "house"—a lasting dynasty (1 Chr 17:10-14). The Chronicler emphasizes divine initiative and sovereignty over human designs, showcasing God's faithfulness and His unique character as one who journeys with His people.

1 Chronicles 17 5 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "indeed." It introduces the divine reasoning or justification for God's prior statement (in the parallel 2 Sam 7:5-7, it's a rhetorical question, so ki serves as an emphatic). Here, it transitions into God's explanation of His long-standing practice.
• I (אֲנִי, 'ani - implied in verb form): Emphasizes the divine speaker. It is God Himself speaking about His own dwelling arrangements. This gives the declaration ultimate authority.
• have not dwelt (לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי, lo yashavti): "Not" (לֹא, lo) is a strong negative. "Dwelt" (יָשַׁב, yashav) means to sit, remain, abide, or settle permanently. The phrase emphatically states God's continuous practice of not being fixed in one place, specifically not in a stationary structure. It signifies God's active choice.
• in a house (בְּבַיִת, b'bayit): "House" (בַּיִת, bayit) primarily refers to a physical building or structure here. It's a contrast to the mobile tents that follow. The full prophecy of chapter 17 plays on the dual meaning of "house" (physical building vs. royal dynasty/family).
• since the day (מִיּוֹם, miyyom): Establishes a definite starting point in history, rooting God's continuous action in a significant past event.
• I brought up (הַעֲלוֹתִי, ha'aloti): Refers to the Exodus from Egypt. "Brought up" (עָלָה, 'alah) implies elevating or raising. It signifies God's active, redemptive act in forming Israel as His people.
• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): Refers to the covenant people, the nation divinely chosen and brought out of Egypt. God's dwelling is specifically in relation to His people's journey.
• to this day (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, 'ad hayom hazzeh): Indicates the duration of God's action—a continuous presence and a consistent pattern of not dwelling in a fixed house throughout Israel's history up to David's time. This period includes the wilderness wandering, conquest, and the time of the Judges and early kings.
• but have gone (כִּי אֶהְיֶה, ki ehyeh - lit. "for I have been/become" or "I was"): This phrasing emphasizes God's consistent state or action throughout this period. It highlights continuous mobility and presence. The "but" acts as a strong contrast to the previous clause.
• from tent to tent (מֵאֹהֶל אֶל אֹהֶל, me'ohel el ohel): "Tent" (אֹהֶל, ohel) refers to a generic nomadic dwelling. The repetition ("from X to X") stresses a continuous process of movement and the temporary, non-static nature of God's presence, reflecting Israel's journeying.
• and from one dwelling place to another (וּמִמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל מִשְׁכָּן, u'mimishkan el mishkan): "Dwelling place" (מִשְׁכָּן, mishkan) specifically refers to the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that was the central cultic structure for Israel during the wilderness wanderings and much of the period of the Judges. Its very name, "dwelling place," underscores God's chosen mode of abiding with them. This phrase reinforces the idea of mobility, yet highlights God's sacred, purposeful presence within this mobility.

• "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day": This phrase asserts God's consistent character and history with Israel. It refutes the idea that God needs a humanly-built structure, and simultaneously challenges the anthropomorphic or pagan notions of deities being confined to temples. God's dwelling has always been dynamic, moving with His people since their formative Exodus.
• "but have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another": This phrase clarifies the nature of God's presence. The repetition underscores perpetual movement and continuous companionship. The distinction between "tent" (generic) and "dwelling place" (the sacred Mishkan/Tabernacle) highlights that while God moved, His presence was always specific, sanctified, and central to Israel's life, whether in their common movements or within their designated holy structure. It shows His willingness to endure hardship and be "on the move" with His people, identifying with their nomadic history. This also subtly establishes His divine control over His presence; it is God who "goes," not humans who direct His dwelling.

1 Chronicles 17 5 Bonus section

• The slight textual variations between 1 Chronicles 17:5 and its parallel in 2 Samuel 7:6 (e.g., "from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another" in Chronicles versus "moving about in a tent for my dwelling" and "from dwelling place to dwelling place" in Samuel) are minor stylistic differences that convey the same core message: God's long history of dwelling among Israel in a portable sanctuary. The Chronicler's version might emphasize the 'generic tent' aspect slightly more alongside the 'specific Tabernacle' (Mishkan).
• This verse subtly includes a polemic against the idea that a deity needs human provision or containment. Pagan gods were often housed in temples by human labor and sustenance; Yahweh demonstrates He is utterly self-sufficient and operates on His own terms. His glory filled the Tabernacle, not the other way around.
• The portability of God's dwelling place (the Tabernacle) also reflects Israel's early history as a people defined by their journey and pilgrimage. God, in His condescension, aligned His dwelling with their very existence, establishing a unique bond of intimacy and constant presence that would distinguish Him from other gods.

1 Chronicles 17 5 Commentary

First Chronicles 17:5 presents a crucial theological statement about God's nature and relationship with His people, Israel. It underscores God's transcendence by declaring He is not contained or beholden to human-made structures, contrasting sharply with contemporary Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs where gods were often perceived as localized entities dependent on their temples. Yet, paradoxically, it simultaneously highlights His deep immanence: He chose to humble Himself and dwell not in a static, grand edifice, but in a mobile tent—the Tabernacle—accompanying His people through every wilderness journey, every battle, and every change in location since their liberation from Egypt. This perpetual movement demonstrates His active solidarity and covenant faithfulness. His choice reveals a God who is not bound by human architectural ambition but whose priority is an ongoing, dynamic presence with His people. It is God who "goes," signifying His divine initiative and control over His dwelling, which also sets the stage for His greater "house-building" plan for David's dynasty.