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?
• 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 house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’” 17So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision. 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? 19And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? 20“What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, 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 prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
• Isaiah 37:14After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord.
• Genesis 32:10I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!
• Exodus 3:11But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
• Judges 6:15“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
• 1 Samuel 9:21Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
• 1 Samuel 15:17And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel.
• 1 Samuel 18:18“Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” David exclaimed. “My father’s family is nothing!”
• Psalms 8:4what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
• Ephesians 3:8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in 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