TRV
Translation
King James Version
O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI, it is for your servant's sake and in accordance with your own heart that you have done all this greatness and revealed all these great things.
Berean Standard Bible
O LORD. For the sake of Your servant and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed all Your greatness.
American Standard Version
O Jehovah, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
World English Bible Messianic
LORD, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
Geneva Bible (1599)
O Lord, for thy seruantes sake, euen according to thine heart hast thou done all this great thing to declare all magnificence.
Young's Literal Translation
O Jehovah, for Thy servant's sake, and according to Thine own heart Thou hast done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
In the KJVVerse 10,883 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 verses 16–27
16 ¶ And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
17 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.
18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.
24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.
26 And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.
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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SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 17:19 encapsulates King David's profound prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging that God's magnificent promises and the revelation of His grand purposes are not based on human merit but flow entirely from God's own benevolent character and sovereign will. David marvels at the immense scope of God's actions, recognizing them as a pure expression of divine initiative and boundless grace, revealing His intentions to His chosen servant.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
1 Chronicles 17:19 employs several impactful literary devices that deepen its theological resonance. Repetition is prominently featured with the words "greatness" and "great things," serving to emphasize the immense, unparalleled, and awe-inspiring nature of God's promises and His power to fulfill them. This rhetorical device effectively underscores the profound awe and wonder David experiences in the face of such divine magnitude. Anthropomorphism is central to the phrase "according to thine own heart," attributing human-like qualities (a "heart" as the seat of will, desire, and intention) to God. This makes God's intrinsic motivation relatable to human understanding while profoundly emphasizing that His actions stem from His very being and uncoerced will. The verse also contains elements of Hyperbole, as "all this greatness" and "all these great things" convey an overwhelming sense of magnitude that transcends ordinary human comprehension, reflecting the truly divine scale and boundless nature of God's covenant and His redemptive plan.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the doctrine of divine initiative and sovereign grace. It teaches that God's actions are fundamentally self-motivated, flowing from His intrinsic character and sovereign will, rather than being a response to human merit, performance, or persuasion. David's humble acknowledgment that God acts "according to thine own heart" establishes a foundational truth: all true blessings, particularly those of covenant and salvation, originate solely in God's uncoerced love, eternal purpose, and boundless benevolence. This perspective cultivates deep humility and profound gratitude, shifting the focus from human performance and achievement to divine benevolence, and reminding believers that God's revealed plans are always for His glory and the ultimate good of His people, rooted in His unchanging faithfulness.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 17:19 invites us to deeply reflect on the ultimate source of all blessings in our lives, both spiritual and temporal. Like King David, we are often prone to subtly attribute success, favor, or even spiritual growth to our own efforts, wisdom, or perceived worthiness. However, this verse powerfully redirects our gaze to God's "own heart" as the inexhaustible wellspring of all good things. It challenges us to cultivate a profound sense of humility, recognizing that every spiritual insight, every answered prayer, every provision, and indeed, our very salvation, is a gift flowing entirely from God's unmerited grace and benevolent will. This understanding should foster a spirit of continuous thanksgiving, transforming our prayers from petitions for what we might deserve to expressions of awe and gratitude for what God desires to give out of His boundless, self-originating love. It encourages us to trust implicitly in God's revealed will, knowing that His plans are always perfect, rooted in His benevolent character, and ultimately designed for our good and His eternal glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the phrase "according to thine own heart" in 1 Chronicles 17:19?
Answer: The phrase "according to thine own heart" (Hebrew: kilevavkha) is profoundly significant because it reveals the ultimate source and motivation for God's actions. It means that God's promises and deeds, particularly the magnificent Davidic Covenant, were not a response to David's worthiness, merit, or persuasion. Instead, they flowed entirely from God's intrinsic nature, His sovereign will, and His inherent goodness and benevolence. It emphasizes divine initiative and grace, underscoring that God acts out of His own character and eternal purposes, not because He is compelled by anything outside of Himself. This concept is foundational to understanding God's unmerited favor throughout Scripture, echoing themes found in passages like Deuteronomy 7:7-8 where God chose Israel not because of their greatness or numbers, but simply because He loved them and was faithful to His oath.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 17:19, with its profound emphasis on God's initiative from "His own heart" in making known "great things" to David, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "greatness" God did and the "great things" He made known to David were primarily the promises of an eternal dynasty and a secure, everlasting kingdom (1 Chronicles 17:11-14). These promises are fully and perfectly realized in Jesus, the Son of David, whose kingdom is indeed eternal and whose throne is established forever (Luke 1:32-33). God's "own heart" of boundless love and unmerited grace, which first prompted the covenant with David, is most clearly and fully revealed in the sending of His only Son into the world (John 3:16). Jesus is not only the rightful heir to David's throne but also the ultimate and complete revelation of God's character and purposes, the One through whom all "great things" concerning salvation, redemption, and eternal life are "made known" to humanity (Hebrews 1:1-3). Through Christ, we behold the very heart of God laid bare, not just in promises, but in the ultimate act of self-giving love on the cross, establishing a new covenant and an everlasting kingdom for all who believe, delivering us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13-14).