2 Samuel 7:6

God’s Covenant with David · 2 Samuel 7:1–17
Read 2 Samuel 7

Translations

Modern
For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling.
Traditional
Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
Literal
For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt and to this day, and I have been moving about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
Latin
Neque enim habitavi in domo ex die illa, qua eduxi filios Israël de terra Ægypti, usque in diem hanc: sed ambulabam in tabernaculo, et in tentorio.

Original

Hebrew
English
For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling.

Notes

have not dwelt in a house: Before the temple was built in one location, God lived in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a portable, tent-like structure. The text here uses language of human experience to describe a truth about God (see study notes on Exodus 29:18; Deuteronomy 8:2). Although God is present everywhere, he chose the tabernacle and later the temple as his "dwelling place" in ancient Israel (see study note on 2 Chronicles 2:5–6; compare Acts 17:24).

David was not happy just making a tent for the ark (2 Samuel 6:17). He wanted to build a house for God.

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 17:1–15

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant David Haggai, Book of History of Israel Jerusalem Nathan Promise Prophecy Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple

Topics

Nathan: A Prophet in the Time of David: His Message to David Concerning the Building of a Temple Prophets: Inspiration of Tabernacle was a Moveable Tent Suited to the Unsettled Condition of Tabernacle: A Permanent House Substituted For, when the Kingdom Was Temple: Solomon's: Forbidden by God Because David Was a Man of War the First Temple: David: Being a Man of War not Permitted to Build