he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Parallel translations
- WEB the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.”
- KJV That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
- NKJV that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
- NASB that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent.”
- NLT the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
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 told Nathan the prophet that he lived in a cedar palace while the ark dwelt in a tent. His desire to honor God reveals a devout heart.
Overview
David is troubled that his own house is grander than the dwelling of God's presence, and he wishes to build a proper temple. The impulse springs from genuine love for the LORD and zeal for His honor. Yet, as the chapter unfolds, God will redirect this good desire, showing that He will build David a house before David builds one for Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Sam 5:11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
- 1 Chr 16:1So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
- John 2:17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
- Acts 7:46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
- Hag 1:4“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
- 2 Sam 12:1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
- 1 Chr 29:29Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are indeed written in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer,
- Exod 26:1–14“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.
- Exod 40:21Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Ps 132:5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
- 2 Chr 1:4Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
- 2 Sam 7:17So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.
- 2 Sam 6:17So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
- 1 Chr 14:1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.
- Jer 22:13–15“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,
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 7:2 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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