2 Samuel 7:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God tells Nathan to ask David whether he is the one to build a house for the LORD.
What Does 2 Samuel 7:5 Mean?
The message begins by naming David my servant, a title of honor, and then poses a searching question: Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? God does not reject David's love, but He gently questions the assumption that David is the one to carry out this work, and in what follows turns the whole idea around.
The question humbles the desire without despising it. God will not be managed or housed by human initiative; He receives our offerings on His own terms. The word house will soon take on a second meaning, for the Lord intends to build something far greater for David than David could ever build for Him.
2 Samuel 7:5 in the Original Language
bayit (בַּיִת), 'house' -- a word meaning both a building and a family or dynasty, the double sense on which this whole chapter turns.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 7:5
What does 2 Samuel 7:5 mean?
God tells Nathan to ask David whether he is the one to build a house for the LORD.