2 Samuel 7 28

2 Samuel 7:28 kjv

And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

2 Samuel 7:28 nkjv

"And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28 niv

Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28 esv

And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28 nlt

For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7 verses

2 Samuel 7 28 Meaning

2 Samuel 7:28 captures David's heartfelt affirmation of God's divine character and His covenant faithfulness, following the unprecedented Davidic Covenant promise. David humbly declares God's unique identity as the only true God and asserts that God's words and promises are inherently reliable, unchangeable, and will certainly come to pass. This profound statement serves as the foundation for David's faith, as he specifically reminds God of the gracious "goodness"—the promise of an eternal dynasty and kingdom—He has bestowed upon His servant.

2 Samuel 7 28 Context

2 Samuel chapter 7 marks a pivotal moment in the Old Testament, outlining the establishment of the Davidic Covenant. David, now securely on his throne and living in a magnificent house, felt it was inappropriate for the Ark of the Covenant to reside in a tent while he lived in splendor. He proposed to build a permanent temple for God. However, through the prophet Nathan, God revealed His divine counter-plan: David would not build a "house" (temple) for God, but rather God would build a "house" (dynasty and lineage) for David. This "house" would be eternal, establishing David's throne and kingdom forever (2 Sam 7:11-16). This promise extends beyond David's immediate descendants to the ultimate Messiah, Jesus Christ. 2 Samuel 7:28 is part of David's prayerful response (2 Sam 7:18-29) to this astounding, unsolicited covenant. His prayer reflects humility, deep gratitude, and absolute faith in the God who initiated and guaranteed such a grand future for his lineage. Historically, in the ancient Near East, kings often sought to establish their dynasties; here, God unilaterally promises an eternal one, uniquely secured by divine fidelity.

2 Samuel 7 28 Word analysis

• And now (וְעַתָּה, vê'attah): This conjunctive phrase functions as a significant transition in David's prayer. It signals a move from contemplation of God's revelation to a direct, immediate, and emphatic response. It often introduces the application or consequence of a preceding statement, here setting the stage for David's profound theological affirmations rooted in God's prior declaration.
• O Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai Yahweh): This is a powerful and specific double name for God, conveying both His supreme authority and His covenant fidelity.
  • Adonai (אֲדֹנָי): "My Lord" or "My Master." It signifies ownership, sovereignty, and authority. David addresses God as his absolute ruler and master.
  • Yahweh (יְהוִה): The personal, covenant name of God (often rendered as LORD in English Bibles, using consonants YHWH from the divine tetragrammaton). It points to God's self-existence, eternal being, and, crucially, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. The combination emphasizes that the sovereign Master is also the One who consistently keeps His word and reveals Himself personally.
• You are God (אַתָּה-הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, attah-hu ha'Elohim): A declaration of exclusive monotheism.
  • Attah-hu (אַתָּה-הוּא): "You are He," a very emphatic form of "You are." It underscores God's singular identity.
  • ha'Elohim (הָאֱלֹהִים): "The God." The definite article implies that Yahweh is the one true and living God, standing apart from all other deities or idols worshiped by surrounding nations. This is a clear polemical statement against polytheism, affirming Yahweh's uniqueness, supremacy, and sole deity over creation and humanity.
• and Your words are truth (וּדְבָרֶיךָ אֱמֶת, u'dvareikha 'emet): This phrase forms the bedrock of David's faith.
  • u'dvareikha (וּדְבָרֶיךָ): "And Your words," referring to all of God's spoken promises and decrees, particularly the recent Davidic Covenant.
  • emet (אֱמֶת): "Truth." This Hebrew word carries a rich meaning of reliability, faithfulness, firmness, stability, integrity, and trustworthiness. It implies that what God declares is not merely accurate in information, but steadfast and unchanging in its reality and fulfillment. God cannot lie or be untrue to His nature; His word is consistent with who He is, providing a foundation of absolute certainty.
• and You have promised this goodness to Your servant (וַתְּדַבֵּר אֶל-עַבְדְּךָ אֶת-הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת, va'têdabber 'el-avd'kha 'et-hattovah hazzot): This links the abstract theological truths about God to the specific, personal covenant David has received.
  • va'têdabber (וַתְּדַבֵּר): "And You have spoken" or "promised." Emphasizes divine initiation of the covenant through speech.
  • hattovah hazzot (הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת): "This goodness." Tovah signifies blessing, well-being, favor, and prosperity. In this context, it is the extraordinary, specific blessing of an eternal dynasty, throne, and kingdom for David's lineage, culminating in the Messiah (2 Sam 7:11-16).
  • 'el-avd'kha (אֶל-עַבְדְּךָ): "To Your servant." David identifies himself not as a mighty king, but as God's humble servant, recognizing the gift as entirely undeserved favor from his sovereign Lord. This humility characterizes a right response to divine grace.

2 Samuel 7 28 Bonus section

• Polemics and Contrast: This verse carries a strong polemical undertone against the contemporary beliefs of David's time. Unlike the pagan deities whose oracles were often vague, conditional, and prone to manipulation, the God of Israel (Yahweh) is declared as the God whose "words are truth" (emet). This implicitly asserts Yahweh's absolute reliability, moral integrity, and supremacy over any other god whose promises could not be trusted.
• Theological Implications of Emet: The Hebrew term emet for "truth" signifies not only factual accuracy but also steadfastness, faithfulness, and reliability of being. When applied to God's words, it guarantees their fulfillment because they are intrinsically tied to God's unchanging and trustworthy character. This isn't just about what God says, but about who God is.
• A Model for Prayer: David's prayer demonstrates how to approach God in light of His promises. It moves from reverent address to affirmations of God's character, then to specific recollection of His word, all grounded in humility ("Your servant"). It teaches that true prayer aligns with, celebrates, and trusts in God's revealed will rather than seeking to manipulate it.
• Messianic Foreshadowing: The "goodness" (eternal house, kingdom, throne) promised to David and affirmed here as truth is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the promised "Son of David" (e.g., Matt 1:1, Luke 1:32-33). Thus, David's confidence in God's truthful words lays the foundation for the certainty of Christ's eternal kingdom and rule.

2 Samuel 7 28 Commentary

2 Samuel 7:28 distills David's deep theological understanding and humble faith. Confronted with God's unexpected and extravagant promise, David doesn't boast but articulates a profound truth about the divine character. His declaration "You are God, and Your words are truth" isn't merely a factual statement; it's an unwavering confession of faith. It posits God as the ultimate and exclusive deity, whose utterances are not mere propositions but absolute realities that will certainly come to pass. This provides the unshakeable foundation for David's confidence in the extraordinary promise of an eternal dynasty for his house. David acknowledges that the "goodness" promised is entirely an unmerited gift from a faithful and sovereign God, a God who keeps His covenant and cannot fail in His word. This verse thus serves as a model of faith-filled prayer: recognizing God's identity, acknowledging His truthful nature, and recalling His specific promises.