1 Chronicles 17:13 Meaning and Explanation
“I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God pledges a father-and-son bond with David's heir and promises His mercy will never depart from him.
What Does 1 Chronicles 17:13 Mean?
God now describes the covenant in the most intimate terms: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. This is the language of adoption and unbreakable belonging. And He adds a promise of steadfast mercy that will not be withdrawn as it was from him that was before, a reference to Saul, whose house God rejected. Where Saul forfeited the kingdom, David's line is held by grace.
These words carry a weight beyond Solomon, for the Scriptures take up I will be his father, and he shall be my son and apply them to the Son of God Himself. Here, deep in Israel's history, is sounded the note of a divine sonship that the New Testament will declare fully in Jesus. And the promise of mercy that will never be taken away is the very steadfastness on which every believer's hope finally rests.
1 Chronicles 17:13 in the Original Language
hesed (חֶסֶד), 'mercy' -- steadfast covenant love, loyal and faithful, the unwavering kindness God pledges never to withdraw.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 17:13
What does 1 Chronicles 17:13 mean?
God pledges a father-and-son bond with David's heir and promises His mercy will never depart from him.