2 Samuel 7:18

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?
• 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?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

Context of 2 Samuel 7:18

16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ” 17Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. 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? 19And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human! 20“What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord.

2 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 in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
• Isaiah 37:14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
• Genesis 32:10I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.
• Exodus 3:11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
• Judges 6:15“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
• 1 Samuel 9:21Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
• 1 Samuel 15:17Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.
• 1 Samuel 18:18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
• Psalms 8:4what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
• Ephesians 3:8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

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

• David
• House
• Humility
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Chasten
• Chronicles, Books of
• Encamp
• Rod
• Accommodation
• Adoration
• Ark of the Covenant

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