“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until Yahweh put his enemies under the soles of his feet.
Parallel translations
- KJV Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
- BSB “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.
- NKJV You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet.
- NASB “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
- NLT “You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the Lord gave him victory over all his enemies.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Solomon explains that David could not build the temple because he was occupied with constant wars. The wars had to end before the house of God could rise.
Overview
David had longed to build the temple but was prevented because he was a man of war and bloodshed (1 Chronicles 22:8). The phrase about enemies under his feet recalls God's promises and echoes language later applied to Christ's victory (Psalm 110:1). The temple awaited a season of rest, pointing to the peace secured by the true Son of David.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Chr 28:3But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’
- 1 Chr 22:8But Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
- Ps 110:1A Psalm by David. Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
- Ps 8:6You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:
- 1 Chr 22:4–6and cedar trees without number, for the Sidonians and the people of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
- 1 Cor 15:25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
- Mal 4:3You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- 2 Sam 7:5–11“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in?
- 2 Chr 6:6–8but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
- Josh 10:24When they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, “Come near. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” They came near, and put their feet on their necks.
- Eph 1:22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 5:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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