God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 7:18
18King David went into the tent and sat in front of the Lord. “Who am I, Almighty Lord,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far?
2 Samuel 7:18 in other versions
- King James Version (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?
- New International Version (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?
- English Standard Version (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?
- New King James Version (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?
Context of 2 Samuel 7:18
16Your royal house will remain in my presence forever. Your throne will be established forever.’ ” 17Nathan told David all these words and everything he had seen. King David went into the tent and sat in front of the Lord. “Who am I, Almighty Lord,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 19And even this you consider to be a small act, Almighty Lord. You’ve also spoken about the distant future of my house. Almighty Lord, this is the teaching about the man. 20“What more can I, David, say to you, Almighty Lord, since you know me so well!
Read all of 2 Samuel 72 Samuel 7:18 word by word
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֣י אָנֹכִ֞י אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ וּמִ֣י בֵיתִ֔י כִּ֥י הֲבִיאֹתַ֖נִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then wentבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- in, and satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I, O Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- my houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
- that thou hast broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- me hithertoהֲלֹםhălôm · hereH1988
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 7:18
- 1 Chronicles 17:16Then King David went into the tent and sat in front of the Lord. “Who am I, Lord God,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far?
- Isaiah 37:14Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, and went to the Lord’s temple. He spread it out in front of the Lord
- Genesis 32:10I’m not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown me. I only had a shepherd’s staff when I crossed the Jordan River, but now I have two camps.
- Exodus 3:11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
- Judges 6:15Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.”
- 1 Samuel 9:21Saul replied, “I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying such things to me?”
- 1 Samuel 15:17Samuel said, “Even though you don’t consider yourself great, you were the head of Israel’s tribes. The Lord anointed you king of Israel.
- 1 Samuel 18:18“Who am I?” David asked Saul. “And how important are my relatives or my father’s family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
- Psalms 8:4what is a mortal that you remember him or the Son of Man that you take care of him?
- Ephesians 3:8I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 7:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Sat before the Lord - Sometimes, when a Hindoo seeks a favor from a superior, he sits down in his presence in silence; or if he solicits some favor of a god, as riches, children, etc., he places himself before the idol, and remains in a waiting posture, or repeats the name of the god, counting the beads in his necklace. - Ward.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Sat before the Lord - In the tent where the ark was. Standing or kneeling was the usual attitude of prayer (1 Kings 8:22, 1 Kings 8:54-55; but compare Exodus 17:12). Modern commentators mostly take the word here in the sense of waiting, abiding, not sitting: but sat is the natural rendering. David sat down to meditate, and then rose up to pray.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-29Verses 18-29 David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honourably of the Lord's favours to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with him as he does. The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of? Ep…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18David’s question, “Who am I?” was an expression of genuine humility (compare Exodus 4:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord--Sitting was anciently an attitude for worship (Ex 17:12; 1Sa 4:13; 1Ki 19:4). As to the particular attitude David sat, most probably, upon his heels. It was the posture of the ancient Egyptians before the shrines; it is the posture of deepest respect before a superior in the East. Persons of highest dignity sit thus when they do sit in the presence of kings and it is the only sitting attitude assumed…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 7:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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