Limitless Word
David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.
2 Samuel 2:11 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
  • KJV And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
  • BSB And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
  • NKJV And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
  • NASB And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

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 reigns over Judah in Hebron for seven and a half years. This sets the timeframe before he rules all Israel.

Overview

The summary notes the length of David's Hebron reign over Judah alone before he later became king over all twelve tribes. It marks a season of patient waiting and consolidation. God's promise to David unfolds in stages, teaching that His purposes are sure even when their full realization takes time.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 4

  • 1 Kgs 2:11The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
  • 2 Sam 5:4–5David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
  • 1 Chr 3:4six were born to him in Hebron; and he reigned there seven years and six months. He reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem;
  • 1 Chr 29:27The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

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 2:11YouTube · 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 2:11 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.