2 Samuel 7:8 kjv
Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
2 Samuel 7:8 nkjv
Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
2 Samuel 7:8 niv
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
2 Samuel 7:8 esv
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
2 Samuel 7:8 nlt
"Now go and say to my servant David, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.
2 Samuel 7 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 78:70-71 | He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes... He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people... | God chose David, shepherd to king. |
| 1 Sam 16:11-13 | So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"... Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him... | David's divine election from the sheep. |
| Amos 7:14-15 | Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the LORD took me from following the flock..." | God calls from humble occupations. |
| Exod 3:1 | Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law... And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire... | Moses, shepherd to leader of Israel. |
| Judg 6:11-12 | Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree... "The LORD is with you, mighty man of valor!" | Gideon's humble origins chosen by God. |
| 1 Kgs 11:34 | "However, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, for I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David whom I chose..." | David as God's chosen servant. |
| Ps 89:3 | "I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to My servant David..." | God's covenant with His servant David. |
| Isa 42:1 | "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him..." | "My Servant" as a Messianic title. |
| Ezek 34:23 | "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd." | Future Messianic shepherd. |
| 2 Sam 7:16 | "And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever." | Davidic Covenant promise of an eternal dynasty. |
| Ps 89:20 | "I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him," | God's active anointing of David. |
| Isa 40:11 | He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom... | God's care as a shepherd. |
| Jer 3:15 | "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." | Good leaders as God-given shepherds. |
| Matt 2:6 (Mic 5:2) | "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel." | Messiah from David's line, a shepherd-ruler. |
| Jn 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." | Jesus as the ultimate Good Shepherd. |
| Dan 2:21 | "And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings..." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | All authority ordained by God. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | God determines who is exalted. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God's ultimate control over rulers. |
| Gen 41:40-41 | "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be swayed by all your commands... you shall be over all the land of Egypt." | Joseph's elevation from humble beginnings. |
| Zech 4:6 | "...‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts." | Emphasizes power of "LORD of hosts." |
| 2 Sam 7:9 | And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and have made you a great name... | God's continued faithfulness to David. |
2 Samuel 7 verses
2 Samuel 7 8 Meaning
2 Samuel 7:8 reveals God's direct message to David through the prophet Nathan, highlighting God's sovereign and gracious choice of David. It emphasizes David's humble beginnings as a shepherd, from which God personally took him, not due to human merit or dynastic right, but by divine initiative. This verse declares God's purposeful elevation of David to be the appointed ruler over His chosen people, Israel, underscoring that David's position of authority derived solely from God's power and plan. It serves as a foundational statement introducing the unconditional Davidic Covenant, demonstrating God's ultimate control over kingship and His intention to establish a lasting lineage for David.
2 Samuel 7 8 Context
This verse stands at the beginning of God's pivotal response to King David's desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant. In 2 Samuel 7:1-3, David expresses to Nathan his conviction that it is inappropriate for him, dwelling in a grand cedar palace, while the Ark of God remains in a tent. Nathan initially endorses David's intention. However, God immediately intervenes that very night, revealing to Nathan that David is not the one to build Him a house. Verse 8 marks the start of God's message, which shifts from David's plans for God's "house" (temple) to God's greater plan to build David a "house" (dynasty and kingdom). Historically, this occurred after David had secured peace from his enemies, consolidated his reign over all Israel, and brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It sets the stage for the unconditional Davidic Covenant, promising an eternal dynasty and a throne that would forever endure, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This declaration corrects a human initiative with a divine decree, reminding that God's ways are higher than man's ways, and His covenant purposes transcend human efforts.
2 Samuel 7 8 Word analysis
Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David: This phrase transitions from Nathan's immediate context of relaying David's desire to the authoritative declaration of God. "Now therefore" (וְעַתָּה֙ - v'attah) marks a logical consequence, emphasizing the urgency and directness of God's word. "Thus you shall say" is a standard prophetic formula, indicating direct divine command given to the prophet Nathan. "My servant David" (לְעַבְדִּי֙ לְדָוִד֙ - le'abdiy le-David) signifies David's special, chosen relationship with God, characterized by obedience and faithfulness. This title is not merely descriptive but conveys intimacy, honor, and a specific divine purpose. It echoes other biblical figures called "My servant" (e.g., Moses, Abraham, Job), prefiguring the ultimate "Servant of the LORD" in Isaiah, referring to the Messiah.
'Thus says the LORD of hosts: This is the solemn and powerful pronouncement formula. "The LORD of hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - YHWH Tzeva'ot) is a weighty divine title, appearing over 250 times in the Old Testament. "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and faithfulness. "of hosts" (Tzeva'ot) means armies, multitudes, or vast numbers, often referring to angelic armies, celestial bodies, or the armies of Israel. This title underscores God's supreme power, sovereignty, and control over all spiritual and physical forces, reinforcing the unassailable authority of His words to David.
"I took you from the pasture, The verb "took" (הָקַחְתִּיךָ - haqaḥtîḵa - "I Myself took you") is emphatic in Hebrew, highlighting God's direct, personal, and active intervention in David's life. It emphasizes divine initiative rather than human ambition. "From the pasture" (מִן־הַנָּוֶה - min ha-naweh) refers to the humble shepherd's dwelling or the open fields where flocks grazed. This specifies David's unglamorous and ordinary background, emphasizing that his elevation was entirely God's doing, not based on social status or royal lineage.
from following the sheep, This phrase further underscores David's lowly previous occupation as a shepherd. "Following the sheep" (מֵאַחֲרֵי֙ הַצֹּאן֙ - me'aḥarey haṣṣo'n) literally means "from behind the sheep," painting a picture of David diligently tending his flock. This pastoral background, often associated with care, guidance, and protection, subtly prefigures David's role as a "shepherd" to God's people. This serves as a polemic against common ancient Near Eastern beliefs where kings often ascended through birth or military strength; David's ascent was by divine calling from the lowest social strata.
to be ruler over My people Israel."'" "To be ruler" (לִהְיוֹת לְנָגִיד֙ - lihyôt lᵉnāgîd) signifies David's divinely appointed role as a leader or prince, a specific kind of divinely chosen official in Israel's early monarchy (e.g., 1 Sam 9:16). This title emphasizes the spiritual and representative nature of his kingship, chosen by God to lead "My people Israel." This phrase highlights God's proprietary claim over Israel and David's appointed task to shepherd them on God's behalf. It contrasts sharply with David's previous task of merely tending sheep; now he is to shepherd God's own covenant people, demonstrating a significant divine mandate and trust. This appointment transcends typical human political power dynamics, rooted in divine election and purpose.
2 Samuel 7 8 Bonus section
The concept of God "taking" an individual from a humble setting and raising them to prominence is a significant motif in biblical narratives, showcasing His divine freedom and ultimate sovereignty in selecting leaders. It implicitly rebukes human tendencies to seek power through human lineage, wealth, or influence. God frequently bypasses the conventionally "qualified" to demonstrate that authority and anointing come solely from Him (e.g., God rejected Saul's sons, chose the youngest, David). This verse also establishes a strong prophetic type: David, the shepherd-king, foreshadows the ultimate Shepherd-King, Jesus Christ, who himself came from humble beginnings in Bethlehem (David's city) and referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd. This narrative, therefore, serves as both a historical account and a powerful theological statement about divine grace, sovereign election, and the nature of true leadership in God's kingdom.
2 Samuel 7 8 Commentary
2 Samuel 7:8 is a profound statement of divine election and reversal of fortune, setting the stage for the Davidic Covenant. It contrasts man's earthly concerns (David's desire to build a temple) with God's heavenly sovereign design. God unequivocally asserts that David's rise to kingship was not an outcome of his own ambition or lineage, but entirely a consequence of divine initiative. The phrase "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep" starkly illustrates God's pattern of choosing humble, unlikely individuals—a consistent theme throughout the Bible (e.g., Moses, Gideon, Amos). David's former occupation as a shepherd becomes a metaphor for his destined role as "ruler over My people Israel," implying care, protection, and wise guidance for God's flock. The majestic title "LORD of hosts" powerfully conveys the limitless authority behind this divine appointment, emphasizing that the kingdom is ultimately God's, and human leaders are but instruments of His will. This verse transforms David's humble origin into a testament of God's sovereign power and grace, laying the groundwork for an enduring dynastic promise that culminates in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Good Shepherd.Practical Usage:
- God uses unlikely people: Do not despise humble beginnings or feel overlooked. God's hand is not limited by human resumes.
- Divine initiative vs. Human ambition: Focus on what God calls you to be/do, rather than what you feel you must achieve.
- Calling shapes character: David's shepherding prepared him for kingly care. Your current humble tasks might be preparing you for greater, divinely appointed roles.