1 Chronicles 17: Yahweh's word to Nathan and David's prayer
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
David, living in his cedar house, tells Nathan the prophet that the ark of Yahweh's covenant is under tent curtains, and Nathan tells him to do all that is in his heart. That night God's word comes to Nathan: David will not build the house, but Yahweh will build David a house, and David's offspring will be set on a throne forever. David goes in, sits before Yahweh, and prays, asking who he is that Yahweh has brought him this far, and asking Yahweh to do as he has spoken.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 11 of the 27 verses: what Yahweh says to Nathan for David in verses 4 to 14, a message that goes on to the end of verse 14. Verse 3 only says that the word of God came to Nathan, so it is not in gold. David speaks to Nathan in verse 1, Nathan answers him in verse 2, and Nathan's words in verse 15 are the narrator's report. David's prayer to Yahweh runs from verse 16 to the end of the chapter, and those are David's words; in verses 17 to 27 they include things David says Yahweh has spoken. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of Yahweh’s covenant is in a tent.”
In plain English: When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of Yahweh's covenant is under tent curtains (or: in a tent)."
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2Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.”
In plain English: Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
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3That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
In plain English: That same night the word of God came to Nathan. It said:
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4“Go and tell David my servant, ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not build me a house to dwell in;God speaks
In plain English: "Go and tell my servant David, 'Yahweh says this: You will not build me a house to live in.
Good to know: gives the same message as a question: "Should you build me a house for me to dwell in?" This verse says "You shall not build me a house to dwell in". The two are set side by side here, and the text does not explain the difference.
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5for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.God speaks
In plain English: I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until this day. I have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle (or: dwelling) to another.
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6In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’God speaks
In plain English: In all the places where I have gone about with all Israel, did I speak a word to any one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people? Did I say, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
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7“Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel.God speaks
In plain English: So now, tell my servant David this: 'Yahweh of Armies says this: I took you from the pasture (this Bible: sheep pen), from following the flock, to be ruler (this Bible: prince) over my people Israel.
The Hebrew word: "Prince" is nagid, which the dictionary gives as "a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious". In the 44 verses of the Bible that use the word, this Bible uses a form of "prince" in 25, of "ruler" in 12, of "leader" in 4 and of "commander" in 1.
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8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.God speaks
In plain English: I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great people who are on the earth.
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9I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not waste them any more, as at the first,God speaks
In plain English: I will set a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they will live in their own place and not be shaken any more. The sons of wickedness (or: injustice) will not wear them out any more, as they did at the first,
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10and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.God speaks
In plain English: from the day I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will bring all your enemies under you. And I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.
The Hebrew word: "House" is bayit, which the dictionary gives as "a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)". It is the one word used for David's cedar house in verse 1, the house of cedar of verse 6, the house David is not to build for Yahweh in verse 4, and the house Yahweh will build for David here.
What changes: Read as a building, Yahweh will build David a palace. Read as a family, he will build David a line of descendants. The next verses speak of offspring and a throne, and verse 12 uses the same word for the house David's son will build for Yahweh.
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11It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.God speaks
In plain English: When your days are finished and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom firm.
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12He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.God speaks
In plain English: He will build a house for me, and I will make his throne firm forever.
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13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you;God speaks
In plain English: I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. I will not take my loving kindness (or: covenant loyalty) away from him, as I took it away from the one who was before you.
Good to know: has the same first words and then adds: "If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men". That sentence is not in this verse.
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14but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever.”’”God speaks
In plain English: I will set him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be firm forever.'"
Good to know: Yahweh says "in my house and in my kingdom". says to David, "Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you". The wording differs, and the text does not say why.
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15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
In plain English: Nathan spoke to David according to all these words and all this vision.
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16Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; and he said, “Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
In plain English: King David went in and sat before Yahweh, and he said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
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17This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.
In plain English: And this was a small thing in your eyes, God. You have also spoken about the house of your servant for a time far off, and you have looked on me as a man of high degree (the Hebrew wording is hard; see the note), Yahweh God.
The Hebrew words: "Manner" is tor, which the dictionary gives as "a manner (as a sort of turn)". It is used in this verse only. "High degree" is maalah, which the dictionary gives as "elevation" and, as a condition, "a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station". Word for word the verse says that Yahweh has seen David "according to the manner of the man, the elevation".
What changes: This Bible reads it as Yahweh looking on David as a man of high degree. The wording is hard, and the verse does not say more than these two words give.
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18What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.
In plain English: What more can David say to you about the honor given to your servant? You know your servant.
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19Yahweh, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
In plain English: Yahweh, for your servant's sake and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, making known all these great things.
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20Yahweh, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
In plain English: Yahweh, there is no one like you, and there is no God except you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
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21What one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?
In plain English: Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth, whom God went to redeem for himself as a people, to make a name for you with great and awesome deeds, driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
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22For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
In plain English: You made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.
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23Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.
In plain English: So now, Yahweh, let the word you have spoken about your servant and about his house be made firm forever, and do as you have spoken.
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24Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’
In plain English: Let your name be made firm and be great forever, so that it is said, 'Yahweh of Armies is the God of Israel, God to Israel,' and the house of David your servant is made firm before you.
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25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.
In plain English: For you, my God, have revealed to your servant (literally: uncovered the ear of your servant) that you will build him a house. That is why your servant has found courage to pray before you.
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26Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.
In plain English: So now, Yahweh, you are God, and you have spoken this good thing about your servant.
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27Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
In plain English: Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, so that it will be before you forever. For you, Yahweh, have blessed it, and it is blessed forever."
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