And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
Parallel translations
- WEB David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for 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 the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
- Ps 89:14Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
- Ps 72:2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
- Ps 101:1–8I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
- 2 Sam 3:12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
- Amos 5:24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
- Jer 22:15–16Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
- 2 Sam 23:3–4The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
- Jer 23:5–6Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
- Ps 45:6–7Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
- Ps 75:2When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
- Ps 78:71–72From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
- 1 Chr 18:14So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
- 2 Sam 5:5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and 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.