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!”
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.
- BSB he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
- 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.”
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 5:11Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
- 1 Chr 16:1They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
- John 2:17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
- Acts 7:46who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
- Hag 1:4“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste?
- 2 Sam 12:1Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
- 1 Chr 29:29Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,
- Exod 26:1–14“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
- Exod 40:21He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Ps 132:5until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
- 2 Chr 1:4But David had brought God’s ark up from Kiriath Jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
- 2 Sam 7:17Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.
- 2 Sam 6:17They brought in Yahweh’s ark, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
- 1 Chr 14:1Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
- Jer 22:13–15“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his rooms by injustice; who uses his neighbor’s service without wages, and doesn’t give him his hire;
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
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.