Limitless Word
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
2 Samuel 15:26 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
  • BSB But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
  • NKJV But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
  • NASB But if He says this: ‘I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
  • NLT But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”

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

David submits to God's will, even if the Lord no longer delights in him. His surrender shows profound trust amid judgment.

Overview

David declares his readiness to accept whatever God decides, whether restoration or rejection. This is the language of repentant faith, bowing to divine sovereignty even in chastisement. David's submissive "let him do to me as seems good to him" anticipates the greater submission of Christ in Gethsemane, "not my will, but yours" (Luke 22:42).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • 1 Sam 3:18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
  • 2 Sam 22:20He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
  • 1 Kgs 10:9Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
  • Num 14:8If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
  • 2 Chr 9:8Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
  • Isa 62:4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
  • Jer 32:41Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
  • Ps 39:9I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
  • Matt 1:10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
  • Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
  • Job 1:20–21Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
  • Judg 10:15And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
  • Jer 22:28Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Samuel 15:26YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.

How 2 Samuel 15:26 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.