Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’
Parallel translations
- WEB nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who will come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’
- KJV Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
- NKJV Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’
- NASB Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name.’
- NLT but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’
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
God said David would not build the house, but his son would do so. The task was assigned to Solomon by God's appointment.
Overview
God redirected the temple project from David to his son, who would come from his own body. This reflected God's sovereign ordering of his work across generations. The promise of a son who would build God's house ultimately reaches beyond Solomon to Christ, who builds the true and everlasting temple of God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Sam 7:12–13And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
- 1 Chr 17:4“Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build Me a house in which to dwell.
- 1 Chr 17:11–12And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
Resources, by level
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 6:9 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.