And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
Parallel translations
- WEB What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord Yahweh.
- BSB What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD.
- NKJV Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant.
- NASB Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord God!
- NLT “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord.
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 confessed he had no more to say, since the LORD already knew His servant fully. Humble dependence replaces any attempt to add to God's grace.
Overview
Words fail David before such generosity; he rests in the fact that God knows him completely. This expresses childlike trust: there is nothing to negotiate or earn, only to receive with gratitude. True prayer often ends not in eloquence but in quiet confidence that God knows and cares for His servants.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- John 21:17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- Ps 139:1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
- Rev 2:23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- John 2:25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
- Heb 4:13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
- Gen 18:19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 7:20 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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