And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
- KJV And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
- NKJV So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
- NASB And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
- NLT And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
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 realizes the Lord has firmly established him as king for Israel's sake. He rightly attributes his exaltation to God's purposes for His people.
Overview
David perceives that his throne is the Lord's doing, established and exalted not for David's own glory but for the benefit of God's people Israel. This humble recognition keeps David mindful that he rules as a steward under God. A king elevated for the people's sake foreshadows Christ, whose kingship is given for the salvation and good of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 7:16Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”
- 1 Kgs 10:9Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”
- 1 Chr 14:2And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
- 2 Chr 2:11Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon: “Because the LORD loves His people, He has set you over them as king.”
- Esth 4:14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
- Isa 1:25–27I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
- Dan 2:30And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 5:12 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.