2 Samuel 7:23 kjv
And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
2 Samuel 7:23 nkjv
And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name?and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land?before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
2 Samuel 7:23 niv
And who is like your people Israel?the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
2 Samuel 7:23 esv
And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?
2 Samuel 7:23 nlt
What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.
2 Samuel 7 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 6:7 | "I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from..." | God takes Israel as His own |
| Deut 4:7-8 | "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? ...righteous decrees..." | Israel's unique closeness to God |
| Deut 7:6-8 | "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God... The Lord your God has chosen you... not because you were more in number than any other people..." | God's sovereign choice of Israel |
| Deut 10:21 | "He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your eyes have seen." | God's great and awesome deeds for Israel |
| Deut 26:18-19 | "And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he promised you... set you high above all nations..." | Israel as God's treasured possession |
| Neh 9:9-12 | "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea... You did great wonders and signs against Pharaoh..." | God's deliverance from Egypt |
| Psa 78:12 | "In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan." | God's wonders in Egypt |
| Psa 105:27-45 | "He sent signs and wonders among them in the land of Ham... He brought his people out with joy..." | God's Exodus actions |
| Psa 147:19-20 | "He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation..." | God reveals His law only to Israel |
| Isa 43:3-4 | "For I am the Lord your God... I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes..." | God's valuing and redeeming Israel |
| Isa 63:12 | "who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name..." | God acts to make His name everlasting |
| Jer 32:20-21 | "You have done signs and wonders in the land of Egypt... brought out your people Israel from the land of Egypt with signs and wonders..." | God's mighty Exodus wonders |
| Ezek 20:9 | "But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations..." | God acts to protect His own name |
| Rom 9:4-5 | "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises." | Israel's special privileges from God |
| Gal 3:13-14 | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law... in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles..." | Redemption through Christ fulfills covenant |
| Tit 2:14 | "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession..." | Christ's redemption creates a special people |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies..." | New Testament people as God's possession |
| Rev 5:9 | "For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..." | Christ's universal redemption |
| Deut 4:34 | "Has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation by trials, by signs, by wonders..." | God alone takes a nation to Himself |
| Ps 44:1 | "O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:" | Recounting God's powerful deeds |
| Zech 2:11 | "Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst..." | Future inclusion of nations with God's people |
2 Samuel 7 verses
2 Samuel 7 23 Meaning
2 Samuel 7:23 proclaims the unique status of Israel among all nations, emphasizing that their distinctiveness arises solely from the mighty, redemptive acts of God. It highlights God's initiative in ransoming them from slavery in Egypt and delivering them from the influence of other nations and their false deities, all for the purpose of establishing a special people for Himself, making His own name great, and demonstrating His awesome power.
2 Samuel 7 23 Context
2 Samuel chapter 7 records the pivotal Davidic Covenant. David, now established in Jerusalem, desires to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, expressing his devotion to the Lord. However, through the prophet Nathan, God declines David's offer, instead promising to build "a house" for David – an enduring dynasty and an eternal throne for his descendants. This is not about a physical structure for God, but about a lasting kingdom and lineage for David, culminating in the Messiah.
Verse 23 comes as part of David's humble and awe-filled prayer of thanksgiving (2 Sam 7:18-29) in response to this covenant promise. He marvels at God's unprecedented grace and commitment, acknowledging that Israel's unique position among nations is solely due to God's mighty redemptive work in their history. The historical context includes Israel's journey from Egyptian slavery to their settlement in the land under David, a direct result of God's covenant faithfulness and powerful acts of deliverance. The reference to "nations and their gods" positions God's unique redemptive acts as a stark polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of surrounding peoples, underscoring the incomparable power and nature of the one true God.
2 Samuel 7 23 Word analysis
- And what one nation upon earth: This is a rhetorical question, designed to elicit the emphatic answer: "None!" It highlights Israel's unique, unparalleled status.
- is like thy people, even like Israel: Emphasizes God's particular choice and special relationship with Israel (עַם, 'am - people, usually indicating a special covenant relationship). The repetition "thy people, even like Israel" serves for emphasis and clarity.
- whom God went to redeem: "God went" (הָלַךְ אֱלֹהִים, halakh 'Elohim) indicates the Lord's proactive, intentional, and personal initiative. "Redeem" (פָדָה, pada), meaning to ransom or buy back from bondage or danger, is a foundational term for God's act of liberation from Egypt, implying ownership and deliverance.
- for a people to himself: This phrase (לְעַם לוֹ, le'am lo) highlights the divine purpose of redemption: God's election of Israel to be His very own cherished possession, a people intimately connected to Him.
- and to make him a name: "Name" (שֵׁם, shem) signifies reputation, character, and glory. This refers both to God's own glory being established and displayed through His actions concerning Israel, and also to Israel gaining renown and a unique identity among nations because of God's work on their behalf. God acts to uphold His own great name.
- and to do for you great things and terrible: "Great things" (גְּדֹלֹות, g'dōlōt) and "terrible" (וְנֹורָאוֹת, ve-nōrā'ōt) or "awe-inspiring" deeds. These refer to God's awesome demonstrations of power, especially the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the conquest of Canaan, which inspired both reverence in Israel and terror in their enemies.
- for thy land, before thy people: God's acts were public and directed towards the establishment and security of Israel in their inherited land, providing concrete evidence of His power and faithfulness. "Thy land" points to the promised land as the outcome and theater of God's acts.
- whom thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt: Specifically refers to the Exodus, the foundational redemptive event for Israel, reaffirming the historical reality of their liberation from servitude.
- from the nations and their gods?: This is a critical theological statement, highlighting God's absolute sovereignty and supremacy. It underlines the uniqueness of Yahweh's action compared to the powerless idols of other nations. God redeemed Israel not just from a geopolitical entity (Egypt) but from the pervasive influence of pagan idolatry.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And what one nation upon earth is like thy people, even like Israel?": This rhetorical flourish sets the tone for David's praise, immediately establishing Israel's incomparable status. It directly contrasts the one true God's interaction with His chosen people against the practices of all other nations and their deities.
- "whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible": This entire phrase delineates the specific nature and multiple purposes of God's mighty actions. Redemption (deliverance from bondage) is the means, while establishing His own divine "name" (reputation, character) and making Israel His very own "people" are primary purposes, demonstrated through "great and terrible" (awe-inspiring, fearsome) deeds. This chain of divine action defines Israel's identity and calling.
- "whom thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?": This segment provides the concrete historical evidence and theological implications of God's unique redemptive acts. It particularizes the "redemption" to the Exodus and extends it to encompass deliverance not just from political bondage but from the spiritual enslavement to the false gods of the surrounding world, underscoring God's ultimate supremacy.
2 Samuel 7 23 Bonus section
The rhetorical question implies that God is peerless among all deities, and consequently, His people, by virtue of being His people, are likewise unparalleled. The repetition of "redeem" within the verse highlights this act as the quintessential expression of God's covenant love and power. This verse lays a foundation for understanding that Israel's call was not merely to enjoy privileges, but to be a demonstration of God's glory and power to the rest of the world. It foreshadows a day when the nations themselves would come to acknowledge the unique God of Israel, aligning with God's ultimate plan for universal salvation through the promised Davidic King, Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 7 23 Commentary
2 Samuel 7:23 stands as a profound summary of Israel's election and identity. David’s prayer encapsulates the core conviction that Israel's exceptionalism does not stem from inherent merit, but entirely from the incomparable character and actions of their God. The focus is singularly on God's initiative: He "went to redeem," He acted "to make His name," He "did great and terrible things," and He "redeemed" them. This redemptive work from Egypt and from other nations’ false gods demonstrates Yahweh's unmatched power and commitment to His chosen people, creating a unique nation set apart for His glory. This pattern of divine initiative, redemption, and creation of a special people for God's own purpose is a foundational theme that resonates through salvation history, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who redeems believers from sin and makes them "a people for his own possession."