1 Chronicles 17 8

1 Chronicles 17:8 kjv

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

1 Chronicles 17:8 nkjv

And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

1 Chronicles 17:8 niv

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth.

1 Chronicles 17:8 esv

and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

1 Chronicles 17:8 nlt

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!

1 Chronicles 17 verses

1 Chronicles 17 8 Meaning

This verse is a declarative statement from God to David, relayed through the prophet Nathan, recounting God's steadfast and active presence throughout David's life. It emphasizes that God was consistently with David wherever he went, divinely empowering him to decisively overcome all his adversaries. Furthermore, it reveals God's ultimate design to establish David's reputation and legacy, exalting him to a position of renown comparable to, or even surpassing, the greatest figures in the world. It underscores that David's rise to power and his enduring fame were solely by God's sovereign hand and unfailing grace.

1 Chronicles 17 8 Context

1 Chronicles 17:8 is a pivotal verse within God's covenant promise to David, a response to David's heartfelt desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant. Chapter 17 opens with David expressing this desire to the prophet Nathan (v.1). Initially, Nathan approves (v.2), but that very night, God speaks to Nathan, correcting his immediate counsel and revealing His own magnificent plan (v.3-6). God makes it clear that He has always been the one building a "house" for Israel (His tabernacle journeying with them), and now He intends to build a "house" for David – not a temple of stone, but an enduring dynasty. Verse 8 directly follows God reminding David that He chose him from a humble background (from tending sheep, v.7) to rule over Israel. Historically, David had solidified his kingdom, overcome many enemies, and brought peace, fulfilling the prophetic trajectory set out in earlier books regarding a future king. Culturally, having a "great name" was synonymous with power, honor, and a lasting legacy, typically achieved through military conquest and political prowess. God's declaration asserts that David's accomplishments and fame are not a result of human strength or cleverness but entirely due to divine enablement, presence, and purpose, establishing a profound distinction between human ambition and divine sovereignty. This covenant also implicitly polemicizes against the pagan notion of self-made kings, asserting that all legitimate authority and success emanate from the One True God.

1 Chronicles 17 8 Word analysis

• And I have been with you:
  • וָאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ (va'ehyah immekha): From the Hebrew root הָיָה (hayah), "to be, to become." The form implies a continuous, past, and ongoing presence. This highlights God's faithful companionship and active involvement in David's life, from his humble beginnings to his reign. It signifies a covenantal relationship, not just passive observation.
• wherever you have gone:
  • בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ (bekhol asher halakhta): "In all that you went" or "everywhere you have walked/gone." This phrase emphasizes the universality of God's presence and protection. It conveys His comprehensive oversight and guidance over every aspect and journey of David's life, encompassing his time as a fugitive, a warrior, and a king.
• and have cut off:
  • וָאַכְרִית (va'akhrit): From the root כָרַת (karat), meaning "to cut, cut off, destroy, make a covenant." In this context, it powerfully conveys decisive eradication and complete removal. It is an act of divine power, not merely David's military skill. This is a common divine warrior motif in the Old Testament, where God is the one who ultimately fights for His people.
• all your enemies:
  • כָּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ (kol-oyeveikha): "All your enemies." The emphasis on "all" signifies total victory and complete security for David. It implies a thoroughness that no human leader could guarantee on their own, whether the foes were external nations or internal adversaries.
• from before you:
  • מִפָּנֶיךָ (mippaneikha): "From your face" or "from before your presence." This means not just defeated but entirely removed, driven away, so they no longer pose a threat or even appear in David's sphere of influence. It denotes a decisive and irreversible clearing of the path.
• and have made you:
  • וָאֶעֱשֶׂה־לְּךָ (va'e'eseh-lekha): From עָשָׂה (asah), "to make, do, perform." This confirms God as the active subject, the one who brings about David's fame and future, directly establishing his legacy.
• a name:
  • שֵׁם (shem): In Hebrew thought, "name" (shem) is much more than a label. It embodies a person's character, reputation, authority, and destiny. To "make a name" means to establish one's fame, legacy, power, and lasting influence. For God to make David a "name" means He bestows unparalleled honor and a lasting dynasty.
• like the name of the great ones of the earth:
  • כְּשֵׁם הַגְּדֹלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ (keshem hagg'dolim asher ba'aretz): "Like the name of the great ones who are in the earth." This comparison initially places David among the most renowned and powerful earthly rulers, yet implicitly, it signifies God's intention to elevate David even beyond their human capabilities and finite legacies. God’s work ensures David's name and dynasty would endure beyond that of any other earthly empire.

Words-group analysis

• "And I have been with you wherever you have gone": This phrase underscores God's unfailing divine presence (immanence) and protective care throughout David's entire life journey. It is a powerful affirmation of intimate relationship and sovereign guidance, preceding and enabling all David's accomplishments. It serves as the foundation for the subsequent actions of God.
• "and have cut off all your enemies from before you": This highlights God as the divine warrior who secures complete and decisive victory for His chosen servant. It clarifies that David's military successes were not by his own might, but by the overwhelming power of God. This divine intervention guarantees national security and removes obstacles for God's purposes to unfold.
• "and have made you a name like the name of the great ones of the earth": This portion reveals God's active role in establishing David's enduring fame and monumental legacy. It implies that David's glory is not self-made, but a divine bestowal that transcends typical human achievement, hinting at an influence and dynastic continuity that will surpass other temporal kingdoms. This sets the stage for the unconditional and eternal nature of the Davidic Covenant.

1 Chronicles 17 8 Bonus section

• Chronicler's Emphasis: For the post-exilic community reading 1 Chronicles, this verse (and chapter) was incredibly significant. It reaffirmed God's covenant loyalty and His ability to restore greatness, offering hope that though Jerusalem had been destroyed, God's promise of an enduring Davidic dynasty, culminating in the Messiah, remained steadfast. It rooted their future hope in God's unwavering faithfulness, even when circumstances seemed dire.
• Beyond Human Greatness: While comparing David's name to "the great ones of the earth," God's promise implies a greatness that surpasses mere earthly power. The subsequent promises in Chapter 17 (e.g., v.14: "I will confirm him in My house and in My kingdom forever") clarify that David's "great name" and dynasty would possess an eternal dimension unmatched by any temporal kingdom or ruler. This points directly to the ultimate King in David's line, Jesus, whose name and kingdom are eternal.
• Active and Sovereign God: This verse emphatically presents God not as a distant observer, but as an intimately involved and sovereign agent in history. His active participation in "being with," "cutting off," and "making a name" for David highlights His comprehensive control over nations and individual destinies, working all things according to His good purpose.

1 Chronicles 17 8 Commentary

1 Chronicles 17:8 encapsulates the essence of the Davidic Covenant, emphasizing God's complete initiative and omnipotent grace in establishing David's kingdom and reputation. It follows the powerful assertion that God took David from tending sheep (v.7) and put him in leadership, thereby showcasing that David's rise was solely divine appointment. The past tense actions "I have been with you," "cut off," and "made you a name" underscore God's continuous and faithful intervention throughout David's tumultuous early life and subsequent reign. Every victory and step forward for David was orchestrated by God, not by David's own strength or ingenuity. The "great name" promised here is not merely personal renown, but inextricably linked to the everlasting dynasty (house) that God promises to build for David in the following verses (17:10-14). This points ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the true "son of David," whose name is above every name, and whose kingdom will never end. This verse is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and raising up leaders for His divine purposes, regardless of their humble beginnings.