Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
Parallel translations
- WEB David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
- KJV And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto 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 and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
- Ps 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
- Ps 72:2May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
- Ps 101:1–8A Psalm of David. I will sing of Your loving devotion and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
- 2 Sam 3:12Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
- Amos 5:24But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
- Jer 22:15–16Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him.
- 2 Sam 23:3–4The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
- Jer 23:5–6Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
- Ps 45:6–7Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
- Ps 75:2“When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
- Ps 78:71–72from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
- 1 Chr 18:14Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered 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
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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.