1 Chronicles 17:11

And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go [to be] with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

And it shall come to pass, when thy days {H3117} be expired {H4390} that thou must go {H3212} to be with thy fathers {H1}, that I will raise up {H6965} thy seed {H2233} after {H310} thee, which shall be of thy sons {H1121}; and I will establish {H3559} his kingdom {H4438}.

When your days come to an end and you go to be with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own sons; and I will set up his rulership.

And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17:11 (KJV)

1 Chronicles 17:11 is a pivotal verse within the Davidic Covenant, a foundational promise from God to King David. This promise, delivered through the prophet Nathan, shifts from David's desire to build God a temple to God's promise to build David an enduring "house" – a dynasty.

Context

King David, having established his kingdom and residing in a comfortable palace, felt it was inappropriate for the Ark of the Covenant to dwell in a tent while he lived in a house of cedar. He expressed his desire to build a permanent temple for God. However, God, through Nathan, revealed a different plan. Instead of David building God a house (temple), God would build David a "house" (dynasty). This particular verse specifies the continuity of David's royal line after his death, setting the stage for his successor and the establishment of that successor's kingdom. The parallel account can be found in 2 Samuel 7:12, reinforcing the significance of this divine pledge.

Key Themes

  • Divine Initiative and Sovereignty: This promise is entirely God's doing, not a response to David's merit. God unilaterally declares His intention to establish David's lineage.
  • Dynastic Promise: The core of the verse is God's assurance that David will have a continuous line of descendants on the throne. This is a promise of an enduring royal "house" or dynasty.
  • Succession and Stability: God explicitly states that the successor will be "of thy sons," ensuring a legitimate heir. Furthermore, God Himself will "establish his kingdom," guaranteeing its security and longevity. While initially fulfilled in Solomon, the promise's language points to a far greater, eternal kingdom.
  • Messianic Foreshadowing: This promise ultimately finds its complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom is eternal and without end. The Davidic Covenant is a crucial part of God's redemptive plan leading to the Messiah.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "house" (בַּיִת - bayit) is central to this chapter and verse. There's a profound wordplay: David wants to build God a physical "house" (temple), but God promises to build David a metaphorical "house" (dynasty). This highlights that God's plans often transcend human understanding and initiative. The phrase "establish his kingdom" conveys the idea of making it firm, secure, and lasting, indicating divine backing for the successor's reign.

Practical Application

1 Chronicles 17:11 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: This verse beautifully illustrates God's commitment to His promises. Despite human failings or challenges, God remains faithful to His covenant.
  • Trust in God's Plans: David had his own plans, but God revealed a greater, more enduring one. This encourages us to trust that God's designs for our lives and the world are superior to our own.
  • Hope in the Eternal King: For Christians, this promise points directly to Jesus Christ, the ultimate heir of David's throne, whose kingdom is not of this world and will never end. It provides a foundation for our hope in His reign.
  • Legacy Beyond Ourselves: David's true legacy was not a building he constructed, but the dynasty God established through him. This reminds us that our most significant impact often comes through God's work in and through our lives, extending beyond our immediate efforts.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 132:11

    ¶ The LORD hath sworn [in] truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:15

    For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.

  • 2 Samuel 7:12

    And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

  • 2 Samuel 7:13

    He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

  • Acts 13:36

    For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

  • 1 Kings 1:21

    Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

  • Deuteronomy 31:16

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go [to be] among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
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