And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you.”
- BSB And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
- NKJV Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
- NASB Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
- NLT Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”
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
Nathan initially encouraged David to follow his heart, assuring him the LORD was with him. Even prophets must wait on God's word rather than presume.
Overview
Nathan's first response was a reasonable, godly endorsement of a good intention, but it was his own judgment, not yet God's revealed word. That same night God would correct the plan, reminding us that even sincere counsel must yield to divine revelation. The episode models humility: Nathan readily delivers God's contrary word once it comes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Chr 22:7And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
- 1 Kgs 8:17–18And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
- 1 Chr 28:2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
- 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.
- 2 Kgs 4:27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
- Ps 20:4Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
- Ps 37:4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
- 1 Sam 10:7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
- 1 Jn 2:27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
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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 7:3 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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