2 Samuel 7 18

2 Samuel 7:18 kjv

Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

2 Samuel 7:18 nkjv

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:18 niv

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:18 esv

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

2 Samuel 7:18 nlt

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7 verses

2 Samuel 7 18 Meaning

David's response to the astounding covenant promises in 2 Samuel chapter 7 verse 18 reveals a profound sense of humility, awe, and gratitude. Overwhelmed by God's unsolicited and expansive blessing – promising an enduring dynasty and an eternal throne – David, a shepherd chosen to be king, acknowledges his utter unworthiness. His question, "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" encapsulates his recognition that his elevated status and the glorious future of his lineage are entirely products of divine grace and sovereign will, not his merit or family's prestige. This verse expresses humble wonder at God's incomprehensible favor shown to one so insignificant.

2 Samuel 7 18 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the most pivotal theological moment in David's reign: the Davidic Covenant. In 2 Samuel 7:1-3, David expresses his desire to build a magnificent permanent temple for the Lord, feeling it inappropriate for the Ark of God to dwell in a tent while he lived in a cedar palace. However, through the prophet Nathan (2 Sam 7:4-17), the Lord powerfully denies David's request to build a temple for Him. Instead, God promises to build a "house" for David – an eternal dynasty (v. 11), securing his throne and establishing a continuous line of kings through his descendants, ultimately culminating in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This divine reversal of roles – God building a house for David rather than David building a house for God – highlights God's sovereignty and unmerited favor. David's prayer in verse 18 is his overwhelming, spontaneous, and humble response to this incredibly generous and unexpected covenant promise, reflecting his full comprehension of God's infinite grace.

2 Samuel 7 18 Word analysis

• Then went King David in:
  • This phrase indicates an immediate and purposeful action by David after hearing Nathan's prophecy.
  • The "going in" suggests entering a specific, perhaps sacred, space. While not explicitly stated as the tabernacle, it implies a place set apart for communion with the Lord.
• and sat before the Lord:
  • Hebrew: יָשַׁב לִפְנֵי יְהוָה (yāšab lifnê YHWH).
  • "Sat" (yashab): A posture of reflection, listening, humble communion, or even intense pondering. It is not a casual sitting but an intentional posture often adopted by one receiving counsel or waiting patiently in the divine presence. It can also suggest an act of prolonged worship.
  • "Before the Lord" (lifnei YHWH): Denotes presence in God's immediate sphere, often associated with prayer, worship, or seeking divine guidance, highlighting reverence and awe.
• and he said:
  • David's immediate verbal response, indicating his profound and heartfelt reaction. This was not a private thought but a spoken expression of worship.
• Who am I:
  • Hebrew: מִי אָנֹכִי (mî 'ānoḵî).
  • A deeply rhetorical question expressing profound humility and self-abnegation. David, though king, perceives himself as insignificant in light of God's boundless favor. It signifies an utter lack of personal merit to warrant such blessings.
• O Lord GOD:
  • Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה ('Ăḏōmāy YHWH).
  • A significant combination of divine names. "Adonai" means "my Lord," emphasizing sovereignty and mastership. "YHWH" (often rendered LORD or GOD in English) refers to God's personal, covenantal name, highlighting His faithfulness and redemptive action. This double address underscores David's reverence for God's supreme authority and His covenant loyalty.
• and what is my house:
  • Hebrew: וּמִי בֵיתִי (ûmî bêtî).
  • Extends David's humility beyond himself to his entire family, lineage, and future dynasty. He recognizes that his "house" (meaning his descendants, royal line) possesses no inherent claim to such an exalted, eternal promise.
• that thou hast brought me hitherto:
  • Hebrew: כִּי הֲבִיאֹתַנִי עַד הֲלֹם (kî hĕvîʾōtǎnî ‘aḏ hălōm).
  • "Brought me" (hevi'otani): Emphasizes God's active, providential guidance and power in elevating David from obscurity (a shepherd) to the kingship, and now to this extraordinary covenant promise. It signifies divine initiation and sustenance.
  • "Hitherto" ('ad halom): Means "to this point" or "to such a great degree." It encompasses all the blessings David had already received, culminating in the unprecedented and everlasting covenant revealed just prior to this prayer. It highlights the vast and immeasurable extent of God's undeserved grace.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord": This group of words emphasizes David's posture of worship and seeking God's presence. It indicates an intentional and solemn act of communion, highlighting reverence and a readiness to engage with the divine. This is not casual but deliberate access to the sacred presence of God.
• "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house": This combined query powerfully expresses David's utter astonishment and deep humility in the face of God's grace. It negates any personal or familial merit, attributing all elevation and blessing solely to God. This dual focus on himself and his family signifies his complete self-emptying before the Almighty. It contrasts man's unworthiness with God's abounding mercy and initiative.
• "that thou hast brought me hitherto?": This concluding phrase identifies God as the sole orchestrator and provider of all the blessings David has received, particularly the latest, profound covenant. It acknowledges God's sovereign and ongoing work in his life, bringing him from humble beginnings to such an unparalleled state of favor. It emphasizes God's initiating and sustaining power, challenging any notion of human achievement or deservingness.

2 Samuel 7 18 Bonus section

The profundity of David's prayer lies in its immediate and humble inversion of his own plans. David sought to build a 'house' (temple) for God, but God responded by promising to build an everlasting 'house' (dynasty) for David. This showcases a core biblical theme: God's ultimate plan is not dependent on human initiatives or achievements but on His own sovereign, covenant faithfulness. David's response demonstrates an exemplary attitude of true worship – acknowledging divine condescension and power while recognizing human limitation and unworthiness. This attitude is in stark contrast to the common self-aggrandizement of ancient Near Eastern monarchs who often claimed divine favor based on their own might or deeds. David's prayer serves as a paradigm for all who encounter the vastness of God's grace: our proper response is humble gratitude and surrendered awe.

2 Samuel 7 18 Commentary

2 Samuel 7:18 marks a profound moment of humble response to overwhelming grace. David, after hearing God's astonishing and unsolicited promise of an eternal dynasty, did not boast or strategize, but instead entered God's presence in humble reverence. His rhetorical questions, "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" reveal a deep understanding that God's covenant blessings are entirely unmerited and stem from His sovereign, unceasing favor. David's posture of "sitting before the Lord" symbolizes sustained, heartfelt worship and contemplation of the divine revelation. This prayer sets a biblical precedent for responding to God's grace with awe, gratitude, and a recognition of one's inherent unworthiness, understanding that all true blessings flow from God's gracious hand, not from human effort or desert.