David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
Parallel translations
- KJV And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
- BSB Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
- NKJV So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
- NASB So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.
- NLT So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
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 reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. He was not only a conqueror but a just ruler.
Overview
Beyond military success, David governed with equity, embodying the ideal of a king who upholds justice and righteousness. This summary presents David as a model of godly rule, caring for all his people. His just reign foreshadows the perfect righteous rule of the Messiah, the Son of David (Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Amos 5:15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
- Ps 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.
- Ps 72:2He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
- Ps 101:1–8A Psalm by David. I will sing of loving kindness and justice. To you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.
- 2 Sam 3:12Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand will be with you, to bring all Israel around to you.”
- Amos 5:24But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
- Jer 22:15–16“Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Didn’t your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
- 2 Sam 23:3–4The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
- Jer 23:5–6“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.
- Ps 45:6–7Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
- Ps 75:2When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.
- Ps 78:71–72from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
- 1 Chr 18:14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
- 2 Sam 5:5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 8:15 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.