2 Samuel 7 24

2 Samuel 7:24 kjv

For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

2 Samuel 7:24 nkjv

For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God.

2 Samuel 7:24 niv

You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

2 Samuel 7:24 esv

And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.

2 Samuel 7:24 nlt

You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.

2 Samuel 7 verses

2 Samuel 7 24 Meaning

This verse encapsulates a profound declaration by David regarding God's enduring covenant faithfulness. It states that God Himself has permanently established Israel as His special and chosen people, for His own divine purposes, and this relationship is to last forever. Furthermore, it affirms the perpetual truth that YHWH, the LORD, has indeed become their God, solidifying the intimate and exclusive covenant bond.

2 Samuel 7 24 Context

This verse is a pivotal part of King David's prayer of thanksgiving, recorded in 2 Samuel 7:18-29. This prayer immediately follows the Lord's covenant promise to David delivered through the prophet Nathan (2 Sam 7:1-17). In this promise, God assured David of an eternal dynasty and a perpetual kingdom. David, overwhelmed by such unmerited favor, responds with humility and awe. Verse 24 serves as a declarative affirmation within David's prayer, reflecting on the historical reality of Israel's relationship with God as a pre-condition and continuation of the new, astonishing promise regarding his own lineage. It ties the particular promise to David to the broader, eternal covenant God had already established with His people Israel, emphasizing God's past, present, and future faithfulness.

2 Samuel 7 24 Word analysis

• For You have established:
  • Original Hebrew: `וַתְּכ֨וֹנֵ֧ן` (vat·te·ḵō·w·nên). The root `כּוּן` (kûn) means to establish, make firm, confirm, prepare. The Hithpolel stem emphasizes the firmness and stability, often implying divine action in making something stable or secure.
  • Significance: This highlights divine initiative and sovereignty. God is the one who acts to secure and make firm Israel's position, not through human effort or merit. It points to the permanence and immutability of God's choice and commitment.
• for Yourself:
  • Original Hebrew: `לְךָ֣` (lə·ḵā). The preposition `לְ` (le-) indicates possession or belonging, and `ךָ֣` (-ḵā) is the second person masculine singular suffix "you/your."
  • Significance: This emphasizes God's ultimate purpose and glory in choosing Israel. Israel is not merely blessed, but specifically designated as a people who belong to God for His own name, honor, and redemptive plan. Their existence and special status are ultimately for God's self-revelation and to showcase His character to the world.
• Your people Israel:
  • Original Hebrew: `אֶת־עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל` (`eṯ-ʿam·mə·ḵā Yis·rā·’êl). `עַם` (`am`) means "people," referring to a nation, kindred, or kinsfolk. `יִשְׂרָאֵל` (Yisrael) is the name given to Jacob, signifying "he strives with God," and becomes the collective name for the nation.
  • Significance: "Your people" reinforces the covenant relationship between YHWH and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It implies a familial and binding connection, setting them apart from other nations.
• as Your very own forever:
  • Original Hebrew: `לְךָ֤ לְעָם֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם` (lə·ḵā lə·ʿām ‘aḏ-ʿō·w·lām). Literally, "for yourself as a people forever." The phrase `לְךָ֤ לְעָם֙` indicates "as a people belonging to you."
  • Significance: This expresses both possession and an eternal duration. "Forever" (`ʿad-ʿōw·lām`) signifies perpetuity, without end. It underlines the unchanging nature of God's covenant with Israel. This "possession" is not arbitrary but a foundational, eternal relationship.
• and You, O LORD, have become:
  • Original Hebrew: `וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה הָיִ֥יתָ` (wə·’at·tāh Yah·weh hā·yî·ṯā). `יְהוָ֔ה` (YHWH) is the sacred covenant name of God. `הָיִ֥יתָ` (hāyîtā) is the perfect form of `הָיָה` (hāyâ), "to be, become."
  • Significance: The use of YHWH emphasizes God's personal, relational, and covenant-keeping character. "Have become" is not a transition but an affirmation of an enduring state—God is and has always been their God in the fullest covenant sense since His deliverance of them from Egypt and establishing covenant at Sinai.
• their God:
  • Original Hebrew: `לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃` (lā·hem lê·lō·hîm). `אֱלֹהִֽים` (ʾelohîm) is the general Hebrew word for God or gods. Coupled with `לָהֶם` (their), it explicitly means "their God."
  • Significance: This is the cornerstone of the covenant relationship (Exod 6:7; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:33). It signifies exclusive divine allegiance, protection, provision, and presence. It counters any polytheistic notion of multiple deities, emphasizing YHWH's sole claim and unwavering commitment to Israel. It highlights the uniqueness and exclusivity of this divine-human bond.

• "For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your very own forever":
  • This phrase declares the divine origination and eternal security of Israel's special status. God initiated and confirmed this relationship, not out of any merit on Israel's part, but out of His sovereign will and for His own glory. The phrase `as Your very own` implies a precious and exclusive possession, chosen from among all nations, for all time.
• "and You, O LORD, have become their God":
  • This reinforces the covenant identity established at Sinai. It's the fulfillment of the ultimate covenant promise: "I will be their God, and they will be My people." The use of the personal covenant name, YHWH, underscores the intimate, relational, and enduring bond between the Creator and His chosen nation. It is a declarative statement of theological fact.

2 Samuel 7 24 Bonus section

This verse stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern beliefs where gods might abandon their people or be swayed by human offerings. Here, God's choice and commitment to Israel are presented as permanent, unbreakable, and for His own eternal glory, not dependent on Israel's transient performance. The Davidic covenant, revealed just before this prayer, amplifies this eternality, tying God's eternal commitment to Israel with the enduring lineage of David, foreshadowing an eternal King from that line (Christ), who ultimately fulfills the promises of God dwelling among His people forever, truly being "their God." The concept of "forever" in this verse reverberates throughout prophetic literature, promising future restoration and an everlasting kingdom for both literal and spiritual Israel.

2 Samuel 7 24 Commentary

2 Samuel 7:24 is the triumphant capstone of David's prayer of thanksgiving for God's astonishing covenant promise. It is not a request, but a declarative worshipful affirmation of God's enduring character and faithfulness. The verse underscores that Israel's identity as God's chosen people is fundamentally rooted in divine initiative and commitment, established for God's own purposes and eternally sealed. This choice transcends time (forever) and is solidified by the intimate covenant promise that YHWH Himself has "become their God" – a deep and personal commitment, echoing the promises from Exodus and foundational to all subsequent covenants, including the Davidic and New Covenants. This immutable truth serves as the bedrock for Israel's hope and continued existence, securing their place within God's eternal redemptive plan, and showcasing His unparalleled fidelity in contrast to transient pagan deities.