2 Samuel 5 14

2 Samuel 5:14 kjv

And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

2 Samuel 5:14 nkjv

Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

2 Samuel 5:14 niv

These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

2 Samuel 5:14 esv

And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

2 Samuel 5:14 nlt

These are the names of David's sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 14 Meaning

2 Samuel 5:14 lists four of King David's sons born to him after he established Jerusalem as his capital: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. This verse signifies the expansion and stability of David's household and the blessings on his reign in the newly acquired city, fulfilling promises of a dynasty. Crucially, it introduces the names of Nathan and Solomon, whose respective lineages become foundational for the genealogies of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel 5 14 Context

This verse (2 Sam 5:14) is situated immediately after David's capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and its establishment as the capital of the united kingdom of Israel. The surrounding verses detail David's growing stature and prosperity: he is anointed king over all Israel (v.1-5), conquers Zion (v.6-10), receives assistance from Hiram, King of Tyre (v.11-12), and takes more wives and concubines in Jerusalem (v.13). The listing of his sons born in this new capital highlights the flourishing of his dynasty and God's blessing on his reign. It signals the beginning of a stable succession and marks Jerusalem as the center not only of the kingdom but also of the royal line. Historically, it was common for kings in the Ancient Near East to have multiple wives and numerous children to ensure dynastic continuity and demonstrate power and fertility. This passage sets the stage for the major divine promises regarding David's offspring and eternal kingdom, found shortly after in 2 Samuel 7.

2 Samuel 5 14 Word analysis

• and these (וְאֵלֶּה - v'e'leh): This conjunctive phrase directly connects back to the previous verse (2 Sam 5:13), which notes David taking more wives and concubines in Jerusalem. It signals that the following list comprises the offspring from these relationships in the new capital, contrasting with the children born in Hebron mentioned earlier (2 Sam 3:2-5). It emphasizes a distinct group of sons associated with his rule in Jerusalem.

• are the names (שְׁמוֹת - sh'mot): "Names" refers to the individual identities of the children. In ancient Near Eastern culture, names often carried significant meaning, sometimes reflecting circumstances of birth, character, or destiny. The act of listing names emphasizes the formal acknowledgment and legitimacy of these heirs, underscoring the foundation of a dynastic lineage.

• of those who were born (נוֹלַּד - nollad): This Hebrew verb, derived from yalad ("to bear," "to beget"), explicitly states their paternity, confirming they are David's biological sons. It underscores the continuation of his "seed" as promised by God, a crucial aspect of the Davidic covenant.

• to him (לוֹ - lo): A direct possessive pronoun, confirming David as the father.

• in Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלִַם - biy'ru'sha'laim): This geographical indicator is highly significant. It explicitly states that these sons were born after David had conquered and established his capital in Jerusalem. This marks a new phase in David's life and reign, signifying stability, central authority, and the special connection of his offspring to the city that would become central to Israel's faith and future prophecies. It also distinguishes them from the six sons born in Hebron during David's earlier reign as king of Judah.

• Shammua (שַׁמּוּעַ - Shammua): Means "heard." He is listed in other parallel accounts (1 Chr 3:5, 1 Chr 14:4). While a legitimate son, he does not feature prominently in later biblical narratives or genealogies for a major role.

• Shobab (שׁוֹבָב - Shobav): Meaning "rebellious" or "back-turning." Also mentioned in parallel accounts (1 Chr 3:5, 1 Chr 14:4). Like Shammua, his name appears, but no significant personal history or role is recorded for him. The name itself is curious, especially given the future family troubles of David, like Absalom's rebellion.

• Nathan (נָתָן - Natan): Meaning "He has given" or "given (by God)." Nathan is highly significant because he appears in Luke's genealogy of Jesus (Luk 3:31), explicitly as the son of David and the paternal line (often interpreted as Mary's lineage) leading to Jesus through Joseph (legally). This establishes an alternative Davidic royal line for the Messiah, distinct from Solomon's, demonstrating the multifaceted fulfillment of God's covenant with David. He is also the namesake of the prophet Nathan, highlighting a significant and God-given presence.

• Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה - Shlomo): Meaning "His peace," or "peaceful." This name becomes profoundly significant. Solomon is the designated successor to David and the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem. His birth is noted with special emphasis in 2 Samuel 12:24 after David's sin with Bathsheba, symbolizing God's forgiveness and continued faithfulness to David's house. Solomon's line becomes the royal line, and he features prominently in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus (Mat 1:6), demonstrating Jesus' claim to the royal throne of David through legal adoption by Joseph.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem": This phrase highlights the consolidation of David's dynasty in the new capital, emphasizing divine blessing on his domestic life alongside his military and political successes. It signifies the start of the primary line from which Israel's future kings would descend and eventually, the Messiah.
  • "Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon": This list is not exhaustive of David's sons born in Jerusalem (1 Chr 3:5 lists Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon from Bathsheba, implying this list in 2 Samuel may be focused or abbreviated). The inclusion of both Nathan and Solomon, however, foreshadows the two primary Davidic lines that lead to Jesus Christ, confirming his complete claim as the fulfillment of all messianic promises rooted in David's lineage.

2 Samuel 5 14 Bonus section

• Parallel Lists and Completeness: While 2 Samuel 5:14 lists four sons, other biblical passages provide additional names and contexts. 1 Chronicles 3:5 clarifies that these four specific sons—Shammua (called Shimea here), Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—were born to David by Bathshua, likely another name for Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel. This highlights their prominent lineage through Solomon's mother. Further lists in 2 Samuel 5:15-16 and 1 Chronicles 14:5-7 provide even more names of David's sons born in Jerusalem, indicating that verse 14 might be a focused, rather than comprehensive, list of particularly significant or chronologically initial offspring from David's Jerusalem marriages. The slight variations in names (e.g., Shammua/Shimea) are not uncommon in ancient texts and often reflect dialectal differences, alternate spellings, or scribal traditions.
• Theological Significance of Multiple Lines: The existence of two distinct Davidic lines for Jesus (Solomon's through Matthew and Nathan's through Luke) underscores the thoroughness of his messianic credentials. Scholars interpret this as demonstrating both Jesus' legal right to the throne (through Joseph's Solomonic line) and his blood descent from David (potentially through Mary's Nathanic line). This duality fulfills the covenant promises comprehensively, ensuring that the Messiah would indeed be "of the seed of David" in every relevant sense, satisfying both kingly and human ancestral requirements.
• Contrast with Chaotic Beginnings: The stability implicit in listing these sons contrasts sharply with the earlier narrative of Saul's dysfunctional kingship and his fragmented family line. David's growing number of legitimate sons in Jerusalem signifies God's blessing and a firm establishment of the Davidic dynasty, a crucial step in the unfolding of redemptive history.
• Typological Shadowing: These sons, especially Solomon, foreshadow Christ as a king and temple builder. However, Solomon's ultimate failures (apostasy, building pagan altars) highlight that he was merely a type, and that a greater, perfect Son of David was necessary for the true and eternal fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. Nathan's inclusion reinforces this, providing an alternative but equally legitimate route to the Christ, ensuring that even if one line faltered, God's promise would be secured.

2 Samuel 5 14 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:14 is a deceptively simple verse that carries immense theological weight. While appearing to be a mere list of names, it is crucial for understanding the Davidic covenant and the genealogy of Jesus. The naming of David's sons born in Jerusalem underscores the flourishing of his household as his kingdom stabilizes in its new capital. This speaks of divine blessing upon David and his house, showing God's faithfulness in beginning the dynastic succession from which the promised Messiah would eventually arise.

The inclusion of Nathan and Solomon, specifically, elevates the significance of this verse far beyond a standard census. Solomon's birth fulfills God's promise that David's immediate successor would build the Temple and continue his kingdom. More importantly, Solomon's line is directly traced in Matthew's genealogy, demonstrating Jesus' legal right to the Davidic throne. Nathan's mention, particularly as the source for the alternative genealogy in Luke, ensures that both key lines from David—the royal legal line through Solomon and the direct ancestral line through Nathan (often interpreted as Mary's side)—converge in Jesus, establishing his comprehensive claim to be the promised Messiah, the true Son of David. Thus, this short verse not only records a historical detail but implicitly points towards the long-anticipated fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through David's lineage.