2 Samuel 7 14

2 Samuel 7:14 kjv

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

2 Samuel 7:14 nkjv

I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

2 Samuel 7:14 niv

I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

2 Samuel 7:14 esv

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

2 Samuel 7:14 nlt

I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.

2 Samuel 7 verses

2 Samuel 7 14 Meaning

2 Samuel 7:14 declares God's solemn promise to David concerning his descendant. It establishes an intimate, familial relationship where God acts as a Father to David's heir, who is recognized as His son. Crucially, the verse acknowledges that this "son" may commit iniquity. In such instances, God promises to administer discipline through human means ("rod of men" and "stripes of the sons of men"), signifying a corrective action rather than a total rejection or termination of the dynastic covenant. This promise guarantees the perpetuation of David's royal line, pointing ultimately to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel 7 14 Context

2 Samuel chapter 7 is pivotal, detailing the establishment of the Davidic Covenant. David, having secured the kingdom and brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem, expresses a desire to build a permanent "house" (temple) for the Lord. However, God, through the prophet Nathan, responds by promising to build an eternal "house" (dynasty/lineage) for David instead. Verse 14 is a core part of this divine promise, specifying the unique Father-son relationship between God and David's future descendants, most immediately Solomon. It anticipates the realities of human kingship within this covenant, where disobedience will lead to divine discipline, but crucially, not the complete rejection and termination of the line, as was seen with King Saul. This covenant became the foundational hope for the coming Messiah, the ultimate "son" of David who would reign eternally.

2 Samuel 7 14 Word Analysis

• "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.":

  • Original Hebrew: Ehyeh loh l'Av v'Hu yihyeh li l'Ben (אֶהְיֶה-לּוֹ לְאָב, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה-לִּי לְבֵן).
  • Significance: This establishes a covenantal adoption, signifying intimate relationship, divine favor, and unique legitimization of David's line. It elevates the Davidic king beyond a mere earthly ruler to one holding a divine endorsement as God's own adopted son. This spiritual father-son bond underpins the special status of David's royal line in Israel. The New Testament, particularly Heb 1:5, applies this specific phrasing to Jesus, highlighting His unique status as the preeminent Son.

• "When he commits iniquity,":

  • Original Hebrew: b'Ha'avotoh avon (בְּהַעֲוֹתוֹ עָוֹן).
  • "iniquity" (avon): Denotes moral failing, guilt, perversity, or willful sin against God's laws.
  • Significance: God's prescient acknowledgement of the human fallibility of David's descendants. This divine realism anticipates that even those in this special covenant relationship are susceptible to sin. It demonstrates God's understanding that this dynasty would not be perfect in every human king, setting the stage for the promised discipline.

• "I will discipline him":

  • Original Hebrew: v'Hochahti hu (וְהוֹכַחְתִּיו).
  • "discipline" (ykh - related to tochah): To rebuke, reprove, correct, or chastise. It implies corrective action rather than destructive punishment.
  • Significance: God's active, corrective involvement in the life of the "son." It reflects God's fatherly love and commitment to their righteousness. The purpose of this discipline is to correct, not to annihilate, and crucially, not to revoke the overarching covenant itself. This is akin to a loving father training his son (Prov 3:11-12, Heb 12:5-11).

• "with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men,":

  • Original Hebrew: b'Shevet anashim u'V'nig'ei b'nei adam (בְּשֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים וּבְנִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם).
  • "rod" (shevet): Can mean a scepter, staff, or stick, signifying authority, and here, a tool for correction.
  • "stripes" (nig'ei): Literally 'blows' or 'plagues,' implying painful physical or severe suffering as a form of discipline.
  • "of men / sons of men" (anashim / b'nei adam): This is a critical distinction. It means the discipline will be experienced in human terms and often administered through human agencies (e.g., enemies, civil strife, foreign conquest leading to exile), rather than immediate, supernatural divine destruction or ultimate divine abandonment that ends the covenant.
  • Significance: This phrase provides comfort and assurance: despite the individual king's potential sins, the covenant would endure. God's steadfast love would not be withdrawn as it was from Saul (2 Sam 7:15). The punishment would be painful but within human limitations, indicating corrective discipline and not ultimate covenant rupture. This foreshadows the exilic period and other times of judgment, which, while severe, did not nullify God's promise of the Davidic throne.

2 Samuel 7 14 Bonus section

The clause "with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men" highlights a unique aspect of the Davidic Covenant compared to many ancient Near Eastern political treaties, which often stipulated severe, often fatal, penalties for disobedience or breaking the covenant. While the Mosaic Covenant also brought curses for disobedience (Deut 28), God's covenant with David specifically assures the continuation of the dynasty despite the future king's failures, guaranteeing a level of divine patience and restorative intent not present in an outright termination clause. This steadfastness provided unparalleled stability to the Davidic dynasty, ensuring that even when kings rebelled or fell into sin, God's promise to David endured, securing the lineage that would ultimately lead to the Messiah. It underscores God's unfailing faithfulness and unwavering commitment to His divine promises, even in the face of human shortcomings, revealing a deeper love than mere contractual obligation.

2 Samuel 7 14 Commentary

2 Samuel 7:14 forms the very heart of the Davidic Covenant, outlining its enduring nature and key provisions. It establishes a unique and intimate familial relationship between God and David's royal successor, emphasizing divine election and sonship. This covenant, however, does not disregard the reality of sin. God anticipates that David's descendants (initially Solomon) will indeed fall short. The promised "discipline" delivered by "the rod of men, and... stripes of the sons of men" is crucial. This signifies a form of fatherly correction rather than absolute destruction or revocation of the covenant itself. It explicitly contrasts with the complete removal of Saul's kingdom; David's line, though disciplined for sin, would never be entirely cut off from the throne. This dual application—to the immediate physical descendants like Solomon, and preeminently to the future Messiah, Jesus Christ—underpins the continuity of God's redemptive plan. The ultimate Son, Jesus, did not commit iniquity, yet He bore the "stripes" for humanity's iniquity (Isa 53:5), fulfilling the prophetic imagery in a profound way. The discipline aspect guarantees the integrity of God's character (He does not condone sin) while safeguarding the permanence of His promise, culminating in Christ's eternal reign on David's throne.