1 Chronicles 17:17

Translation
King James Version
And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And yet this was a small thing H6994 in thine eyes H5869, O God H430; for thou hast also spoken H1696 of thy servant's H5650 house H1004 for a great while to come H7350, and hast regarded H7200 me according to the estate H8448 of a man H120 of high degree H4609, O LORD H3068 God H430.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Yet in your view, God, even this was but a small thing; so you have said that your servant's dynasty will continue on into the distant future. You have regarded me, ADONAI, God, as a man of high rank.
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Berean Standard Bible
And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction, O LORD God.
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American Standard Version
And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Jehovah God.
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World English Bible Messianic
This was a small thing in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the estate of a man of high degree, LORD God.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Yet thou esteeming this a small thing, O God, hast also spoken concerning the house of thy seruaut for a great while, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of hie degree, O Lord God.
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Young's Literal Translation
And this is small in Thine eyes, O God, and Thou speakest concerning the house of thy servant afar off, and hast seen me as a type of the man who is on high, O Jehovah God!
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See also
Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:111 Chronicles 17:71 Chronicles 17:81 Chronicles 17:111 Chronicles 17:15Isaiah 49:6
In the KJVVerse 10,881 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

1 Chronicles 17:17 captures King David's profound humility and overwhelming gratitude in response to God's astonishing and expansive covenant promise. Despite having already been elevated from a humble shepherd to a mighty king, David marvels that God considers all past and present blessings as "a small thing" compared to the infinitely greater, enduring dynastic future He has spoken concerning David's "house," treating him with an honor far beyond his deserving. This verse encapsulates David's awe at the boundless grace and sovereign regard of the Almighty God, who promises an eternal legacy.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is an integral part of David's prayer of thanksgiving found in 1 Chronicles 17, which closely parallels the account in 2 Samuel 7. The chapter opens with David's noble desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, a "house" for God (1 Chronicles 17:1). However, through the prophet Nathan, God reveals a far grander and unexpected plan: God would not have David build Him a house of cedar, but rather, God Himself would build David a "house"—an enduring dynasty and an everlasting kingdom (1 Chronicles 17:10-14). The preceding verses detail this incredible promise, including that David's throne would be established forever and that his descendant would build God's temple. Verse 17 is David's humble, astonished, and deeply grateful reaction to the sheer magnitude and eternal scope of this divine commitment, demonstrating his comprehension of God's overwhelming generosity. His prayer continues to express his unworthiness and God's incomparable greatness.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's legacy was often defined by the stability and longevity of his dynasty and the magnificent structures he built to honor the gods. David, having secured the kingdom and brought the Ark to Jerusalem, naturally desired to build a grand temple, a fitting dwelling for Yahweh, reflecting the common practice of monarchs honoring their deities. However, God's response subverted this expectation. Instead of a physical structure built by human hands, God promised an enduring "house" in the sense of a lineage and an eternal kingdom. This promise was revolutionary, establishing a unique covenant relationship that transcended typical human dynastic aspirations. The idea of God "regarding" a mere human "according to the estate of a man of high degree" highlights the immense condescension and unmerited favor shown by the divine King to His chosen servant, elevating him to a status far beyond any earthly measure or expectation, signifying a profound divine election and an unparalleled relationship.
  • Key Themes: The primary theme in 1 Chronicles 17 and particularly in verse 17 is God's Sovereign Grace and Covenant Faithfulness. David marvels that God considers His already immense blessings (a secure kingdom, victory over enemies, a personal relationship) as "a small thing" compared to the monumental, future-oriented promises He has made. This underscores God's exceedingly generous nature, always giving more than expected and demonstrating a boundless love that transcends human comprehension. Secondly, the verse powerfully articulates the Eternal Davidic Covenant, pointing to the enduring nature of God's promise to establish David's "house" and throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). This covenant, unlike human agreements, is unilaterally established by God and guarantees an everlasting lineage and kingdom, ultimately finding its fulfillment in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:33). Finally, David's response exemplifies Humility in Receiving Divine Favor, recognizing his unworthiness and God's unmerited grace, serving as a model for all who receive God's blessings.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • small (Hebrew, qâṭôn', H6994): The Hebrew word קָטֹן (H6994, qâṭôn') means "to diminish," "to be diminutive," or "of no account." In this context, David uses it not to literally diminish God's past blessings, but to express his profound astonishment and humility at God's perspective. Even the immense favor God has already shown him (making him king, giving him rest from enemies, establishing his name) is considered by God as a mere trifle compared to the grand, eternal dynastic promise yet to unfold. It highlights God's infinite capacity for generosity and His boundless plans that far exceed human understanding of "greatness."
  • for a great while to come (Hebrew, râchôwq', H7350): The Hebrew word רָחֹוק (H7350, râchôwq') means "remote," "far off," or "long ago." Here, it is used adverbially to emphasize the long-term, indeed eternal, scope of God's dynastic promise to David. It speaks not just of David's immediate descendants but of a lineage that stretches indefinitely into the future, culminating in an everlasting kingdom. This phrase underscores the enduring and unconditional nature of the Davidic Covenant, indicating its far-reaching implications and ultimate fulfillment beyond David's lifetime.
  • high degree (Hebrew, maʻălâh', H4609): The Hebrew word מַעֲלָה (H4609, maʻălâh') refers to "elevation," "a step," or "a superiority of station." In the phrase "according to the estate of a man of high degree," it conveys David's astonishment that God would treat him with such extraordinary honor, elevating him to a position of immense dignity and significance. It speaks to God's act of raising David, a humble shepherd, to a royal status and then speaking to him as if he were a person of the highest rank, far beyond what David could ever merit. It underscores God's incredible condescension and the unmerited favor that placed David in such a privileged and historically pivotal role.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And [yet] this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God;": David begins by expressing his awe that God views His already incredible blessings—establishing David's kingdom, giving him rest from enemies, and making his name great—as insignificant. This is not a dismissal of God's past goodness but a hyperbolic expression of wonder at the even greater promises to come. It reveals God's perspective, where even immense earthly blessings are minor compared to His eternal purposes and the magnitude of His future covenantal plans.
  • "for thou hast [also] spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come,": This clause explains why the past blessings are "small." God has not only blessed David in the present but has also made a promise concerning his "house" (dynasty) that extends far into the distant future, indeed, eternally. This refers to the Davidic Covenant, promising an unbroken line of descendants and an everlasting kingdom, far surpassing any temporal human ambition or achievement. It highlights God's proactive and long-term commitment to His chosen servant.
  • "and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.": David concludes by marveling at the unparalleled honor God has bestowed upon him. He, a humble shepherd, is treated by the Almighty God (LORD God, YHWH Elohim) with the dignity and respect usually reserved for the most exalted individuals, or perhaps even in a manner befitting God's own majesty. It underscores the unmerited favor and divine election that elevated David to such a pivotal role in salvation history, highlighting God's sovereign choice and gracious condescension towards humanity.

Literary Devices

The verse employs several powerful literary devices that amplify David's awe and God's majesty. Hyperbole is evident in David's declaration that God's already immense blessings are "a small thing in thine eyes." This exaggeration serves to emphasize the truly overwhelming and incomprehensible nature of God's future promises, making the contrast between the temporal and the eternal even more striking. There is also a strong sense of Covenant Language and imagery, particularly with the repeated use of "house" (referring both to a physical temple David desired to build and the dynastic lineage God promised to build for David) and the emphasis on promises extending "for a great while to come," which points to the enduring and unconditional nature of God's commitment. Furthermore, the phrase "regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree" can be seen as a form of Anthropomorphism, attributing human-like regard to God, while simultaneously highlighting God's incredible Condescension and unmerited favor towards a human being, elevating David beyond his natural station.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

1 Chronicles 17:17 profoundly illustrates the boundless nature of God's grace and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. It reveals a God whose plans far exceed human imagination and who delights in bestowing favor beyond what is deserved. David's response of humility and awe becomes a model for all believers, reminding us that God's blessings are not earned but freely given, and His faithfulness extends across generations, culminating in His ultimate redemptive plan. The verse underscores the progressive revelation of God's kingdom, moving from a physical temple to an eternal dynasty, foreshadowing the spiritual and everlasting reign of the Messiah. It teaches us that God's perspective on "greatness" is vastly different from our own, valuing eternal purposes over temporal achievements.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 17:17 offers a powerful lens through which to view God's character and our place in His grand design. It invites us to cultivate a spirit of profound humility and overflowing gratitude, recognizing that even the greatest blessings we experience in this life are but "small things" compared to the eternal, immeasurable riches God has prepared for those who love Him. Just as God's plans for David far exceeded his own aspirations to build a temple, so too does God's grace often surpass our understanding and expectations, unfolding in ways we could never imagine. This verse encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that His promises are not limited by time or human capacity but extend to our eternal destiny, assuring us of His ultimate plan for salvation and an everlasting kingdom. It challenges us to look beyond immediate circumstances and embrace the vastness of God's redemptive work, finding our ultimate hope and security in His unchanging covenant, and to respond with humble worship for His unmerited favor.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of your life have you seen God's blessings far exceed your expectations or even your prayers?
  • How does David's humility in receiving such immense promises challenge your own perspective on receiving God's favor?
  • What "small things" in your life might God be using as a prelude to His "great things" yet to come in your spiritual journey?
  • How does the eternal nature of God's promise to David impact your understanding of God's faithfulness to you personally in Christ?

FAQ

What is the significance of God calling His blessings to David "a small thing"?

Answer: When God refers to His already immense blessings upon David as "a small thing" in 1 Chronicles 17:17, it's not a dismissal of His past goodness, but rather a profound theological statement about the even greater and eternal nature of His future promises. David, in his prayer, is expressing his astonishment at God's infinite generosity. God had already made David king, given him rest from his enemies, and established his name as great. Yet, from God's perspective, these temporal, earthly blessings were "small" compared to the monumental, everlasting covenant He was making concerning David's "house" (his dynasty) and the eternal kingdom that would spring from it. It highlights God's boundless capacity to give and His grand, long-term redemptive plan that far surpasses any human expectation or achievement. It underscores that God's ultimate blessing is not merely temporal prosperity but an eternal covenant relationship, culminating in the reign of the Messiah.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

The promise to David in 1 Chronicles 17:17 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "house" and "kingdom" spoken of "for a great while to come" point directly to the Messiah, the true Son of David, whose reign is truly eternal and whose kingdom will have no end. While David's immediate descendants sat on the throne, the promise of an everlasting kingdom was ultimately broken by human sin and exile. However, God's faithfulness to His covenant was not nullified. Instead, it was perfectly fulfilled in Jesus, who is the promised "seed" of David (Romans 1:3), born of David's lineage (Matthew 1:1). The angel Gabriel's words to Mary explicitly connect Jesus to this covenant: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). Thus, the "man of high degree" whom God regarded so highly, David, foreshadows the infinitely higher degree of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the eternal King and whose spiritual kingdom encompasses all believers, extending far beyond any earthly dynasty into eternity (Revelation 11:15). He is the one who builds God's true spiritual "house" (the Church) and reigns forever.

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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 verses 16–27

We have here David's solemn address to God, in answer to the gracious message he had now received from him. By faith he receives the promises, embraces them, and is persuaded of them, as the patriarchs, Heb, Ch1 11:13. How humbly does he here abase himself, and acknowledge his own unworthiness! How highly does he advance the name of God and admire his condescending grace and favour! With what devout affections does he magnify the God of Israel and what a value has he for the Israel of God! With what assurance does he build upon the promise, and with what a lively faith does he put it in suit! What an example is this to us of humble, believing, fervent prayer! The Lord enable us all thus to seek him! These things were largely observed, 2 Sa. 7. We shall therefore here observe only those few expressions in which the prayer, as we find it here, differs from the record of it there, and has something added to it.

I. That which is there expressed by way of question (Is this the manner of men, O Lord God?) is here an acknowledgment: "Thou hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree. Thou hast made me a great man, and then treated me accordingly." God, by the covenant-relations into which he admits believers, the titles he gives them, the favours he bestows on them, and the preparations he has made for them, regards them according to the estate of men of high degree, though they are mean and vile. Having himself distinguished them, he treats them as persons of distinction, according to the quality he has been pleased to put upon them. Some give these words here another reading: "Thou hast looked upon me in the form of a man who art in the highest, the Lord God; or, Thou hast made me to see according to the form of a man the majesty of the Lord God." And so it points at the Messiah; for, as Abraham, so David, saw his day and was glad, saw it by faith, saw it in fashion as a man, the Word made flesh, and yet saw his glory as that of the only-begotten of the Father. And this was that which God spoke concerning his house for a great while to come, the foresight of which affected him more than any thing. And let it not be thought strange that David should speak so plainly of the two natures of Christ who in spirit called him Lord, though he knew he was to be his Son (Psa 110:1), and foresaw him lower than the angels for a little while, but afterwards crowned with glory and honour, Heb 2:6, Heb 2:7.

II. After the words What can David say more unto thee, it is here added, for the honour of they servant? Ch1 17:18. Note, The honour God puts upon his servants, by taking them into covenant and communion with himself, is so great that they need not, they cannot, desire to be more highly honoured. Were they to sit down and wish, they could not speak more for their own honour than the word of God has spoken.

III. It is very observable that what in Samuel is said to be for thy word's sake is here said to be for thy servant's sake, Ch1 17:19. Jesus Christ is both the Word of God (Rev 19:13) and the servant of God (Isa 42:1), and it is for his sake, upon the score of his meditation, that the promises are both made and made good to all believers; it is in him that they are yea and amen. For his sake is all kindness done, for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness and from him we are to expect all these great things; they are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which, if by faith we see in themselves and see in the hand of the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify as great things, the only true greatness, and speak honourably of accordingly.

IV. In Samuel, the Lord of hosts is said to be the God over Israel; here he is said to be the God of Israel, even a God to Israel, Ch1 17:24. His being the God of Israel bespeaks his having the name of their God and so calling himself; his being a God to Israel bespeaks his answering to the name, his filling up the relation, and doing all that to them which might be expected from him. There were those that were called gods of such and such nations, gods of Assyria and Egypt, gods of Hamad and Arpad; but they were no gods to them, for they stood them in no stead at all, were mere ciphers, nothing but a name. But the God of Israel is a God to Israel; all his attributes and perfections redound to their real benefit and advantage. Happy therefore, thrice happy, is the people whose God is Jehovah; for he will be a God to them, a God all-sufficient.

V. The closing words in Samuel are, With thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever. That is the language of a holy desire. But the closing words here are the language of a most holy faith: For thou blessest, O Lord! and it shall be blessed for ever, Ch1 17:27. 1. He was encouraged to beg a blessing because God had intimated to him that he had blessings in store for him and his family: "Thou blessest, O Lord! and therefore unto thee shall all flesh come for a blessing; unto thee do I come for the blessing promised to me." Promises are intended to direct and excite prayer. Has God said, I will bless? Let our hearts answer, Lord, bless me, 2. He was earnest for the blessing because he believed that those whom God blesses are truly and eternally blessed: Thou blessest, and it shall be blessed. Men can but beg the blessing; it is God that commands it. What he designs he effects; what he promises he performs; saying and doing are not two things with him. Nay, it shall be blessed for ever. His blessings shall not be revoked, cannot be opposed, and the benefits conferred by them are such as will survive time and days. David's prayer concludes as God's promise did (Ch1 17:14) with that which is for ever. God's word looks at things eternal, and so should our desires and hopes.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 16–27. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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