2 Samuel 7:1 kjv
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 Samuel 7:1 nkjv
Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2 Samuel 7:1 niv
After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
2 Samuel 7:1 esv
Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,
2 Samuel 7:1 nlt
When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,
2 Samuel 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 12:10-11 | "you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land... and he will give you rest from all your surrounding enemies." | God's promise of rest in the Promised Land. |
| Josh 21:44 | "And the Lord gave them rest all around just as he had sworn..." | Fulfillment of the promise of rest under Joshua. |
| Josh 23:1 | "After a long time... the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies." | Another period of national rest. |
| 2 Sam 5:11-12 | "Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David... built David a house. And David knew that the Lord had established him as king..." | David's house is completed; God established him. |
| 2 Sam 8:1-14 | Description of David's extensive military victories, bringing the rest. | Detailed account of David's conquest and pacification. |
| 1 Chr 14:1 | "Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar timber, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house." | Parallel account of David's house construction. |
| 1 Kgs 5:3-4 | "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord... Now the Lord my God has given me rest..." | Solomon acknowledging David's wars, now peace enables temple building. |
| Ps 95:11 | "Therefore I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" | Refers to a divine, ultimate rest; used in Hebrews. |
| Ps 132:11-12 | "The Lord swore to David a sure oath... ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.’" | Oath to David about his dynasty. |
| Heb 4:8-9 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another day... a Sabbath-rest for the people of God remains." | The ultimate, spiritual rest God provides. |
| 2 Sam 7:2-3 | David's desire to build a temple. | Direct immediate context for the covenant. |
| 2 Sam 7:11-16 | "Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house... your house and your kingdom shall endure forever..." | The foundational Davidic Covenant. |
| 1 Chr 17:10-14 | "And I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house... Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me..." | Parallel account of the Davidic Covenant. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with my chosen one... ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build your throne for all generations.’" | Confirmation of the everlasting Davidic covenant. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom..." | Prophecy of Messiah, descendent of David, reigning in eternal peace. |
| Jer 33:17 | "For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel." | Prophecy affirming the enduring 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 to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever..." | Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant in Jesus. |
| Acts 2:29-30 | Peter preaching about David's prophecy of a descendant sitting on his throne (Jesus). | Apostolic confirmation of the Messianic lineage. |
| Rom 1:3 | "concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh..." | Jesus' Davidic lineage confirmed. |
| Rev 22:16 | "I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." | Jesus' ultimate identity as the fulfillment. |
2 Samuel 7 verses
2 Samuel 7 1 Meaning
At this pivotal moment in Israel's history, King David has successfully established his kingdom, ruling from his royal residence in Jerusalem. The Lord, God of Israel, is directly credited with granting David a period of complete tranquility and security, bringing an end to the ceaseless warfare with surrounding adversaries. This divine peace sets the stage for a profound spiritual reflection within David and the subsequent revelation of the eternal Davidic Covenant.
2 Samuel 7 1 Context
This verse is the opening to one of the most significant chapters in the Old Testament, outlining the Davidic Covenant. Chronologically, it follows David's successful consolidation of power, including the capture of Jerusalem, bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city (2 Sam 6), and establishing it as his capital. Having completed his own magnificent palace (2 Sam 5:11-12) and achieved comprehensive victory over surrounding nations (which will be detailed in 2 Samuel 8), David is enjoying a period of unparalleled peace and security. This sense of peace and settledness prompts David's thoughts toward God's dwelling, which is currently a temporary tent, a structure perceived as less fitting than his own grand palace. This desire for parity sets the immediate scene for his conversation with Nathan the prophet.
Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern kings often sought to build grand temples for their gods as a display of piety, power, and thanksgiving upon securing their realms. This act would signify stability, legitimacy, and the patron god's favor. David's intention thus fits within the contemporary royal custom. However, God's response to David transcends typical ancient Near Eastern divine-royal patronage, establishing a covenant centered on dynasty and an enduring house (kingdom) that ultimately points to the Messiah.
2 Samuel 7 1 Word analysis
- Now when: (Hebrew: Wa-yehi) A common temporal marker in narrative, signaling a new, significant development or shift in focus. It often introduces consequential events.
- the king: Refers specifically to David. The definite article emphasizes his established, authoritative position as the ruler of Israel.
- lived: (Hebrew: yashab - יָשַׁב) Implies settled habitation, residence, or dwelling. It connotes stability, security, and permanence, indicating that David's throne was now firm, not merely temporary or migratory.
- in his house: (Hebrew: be-veitō - בְּבֵיתוֹ) Refers to David's personal royal palace, constructed with the aid of Hiram of Tyre (2 Sam 5:11). This physical dwelling signifies David's established monarchy and his domestic peace and comfort. It is deliberately contrasted later with the temporary "tent" of God and the future "house" (temple) and "house" (dynasty).
- and the Lord: (Hebrew: wa-YHWH - וַיהוה) Emphasizes that YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, is the active agent. This peace is not merely due to David's military prowess but is a direct, sovereign gift from God.
- had given him rest: (Hebrew: hēnîaḥ lō - הֵנִֽיחַ לֹו) This is a key phrase. Hēnîaḥ is the Hiphil perfect form of nuakh, meaning "to cause to rest" or "to grant rest." This 'rest' is divine in origin, not earned or seized by David alone. It denotes a cessation of warfare, security from external threats, and internal peace within the kingdom. It connects David's reign to the broader biblical theme of rest for God's people in the promised land (Deut 12:10, Josh 21:44), often seen as a prerequisite for dwelling safely and worshipping God.
- from all his surrounding enemies: (Hebrew: mi-kol-ōyĕbāw mi-ssābîv - מִכָּל-אֹיְבָיו מִסָּבִיב) Indicates a comprehensive peace, where all adversaries who previously threatened Israel's borders or David's reign have been subdued or neutralised. This signifies complete pacification of the region around Israel, confirming God's faithfulness to His promises of security and blessing to His covenant people when they walk in obedience.
2 Samuel 7 1 Bonus section
The "rest" granted by the Lord is not merely political peace but has a deep theological significance. It harkens back to God giving Israel rest from their enemies to inhabit the land (Deut 12:10; Josh 21:44). This specific mention of God granting rest here makes David's peaceful reign a fulfillment of earlier covenant blessings and highlights the Lord's direct involvement in securing His people's well-being. This rest provides the space for spiritual reflection and leads to the unfolding of God's greater plan. It also subtly emphasizes that genuine security and establishment come from God's hand, not solely from human strength or strategy. This established peace serves as the earthly archetype of the true "rest" offered through the Messiah (Heb 4), a spiritual rest that surpasses temporal quietude.
2 Samuel 7 1 Commentary
2 Samuel 7:1 acts as a crucial narrative hinge, setting the stage for the pivotal Davidic Covenant. It concisely establishes David's kingly authority and his experience of God's profound peace. David's completed house symbolizes the stability and success God had granted his reign, contrasting with God's dwelling, which was still a movable tent. The phrase "the Lord had given him rest" underscores divine sovereignty over historical events. This divinely bestowed rest, encompassing a cessation of warfare and secure borders, fulfills ancient promises of security for Israel in the Promised Land. It cultivates an atmosphere of thanksgiving and a desire in David's heart to build a more permanent, fitting dwelling for God. However, God's response transcends David's intention, revealing a deeper plan: instead of David building a "house" (temple) for God, God would build an enduring "house" (dynasty and kingdom) for David, culminating in the eternal reign of the Messiah. Thus, this verse transforms David's personal comfort into a catalyst for God's grand redemptive purposes.