2 Samuel 7:20

KJV

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

KJV (with Strong's)

And what can {H3254} David {H1732} say {H1696} more {H3254} unto thee? for thou, Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, knowest {H3045} thy servant {H5650}.

Complete Jewish Bible

what more can David say to you? For you know your servant intimately, Adonai ELOHIM.

Berean Standard Bible

What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD.

American Standard Version

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following the astonishing revelation of the eternal Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:20 captures King David's profound humility and awe before the Lord. Overwhelmed by God's unmerited grace and magnificent promises, David acknowledges the inadequacy of human words to express his gratitude or to add anything to God's perfect understanding. His rhetorical question and subsequent affirmation of God's omniscience underscore his complete trust in the divine character and plan, recognizing that God intimately knows His servant and all things.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of David's prayer of thanksgiving and worship, recorded in [2 Samuel 7:18-29](/2_samuel/7-18 "2 Samuel 7:18-29 - David's Prayer of Thanksgiving"). Immediately preceding this prayer, the prophet Nathan delivers God's monumental promise to David, known as the Davidic Covenant ([2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")). God declares that He, not David, will build a "house"—an everlasting dynasty—for David, establishing his throne forever. This divine initiative, entirely unmerited by David, profoundly humbles the king, leading him to a posture of worshipful astonishment. His prayer is a direct, heartfelt response to this unparalleled display of divine favor, culminating in his declaration of utter dependence on God's perfect knowledge.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, kings often sought to legitimize their rule through grand building projects, including temples for their gods. David's initial desire to build a temple for the Lord (as seen in [2 Samuel 7:1-3](/2_samuel/7-1 "2 Samuel 7:1-17 - David's Desire to Build a Temple")) fits this cultural pattern. However, God's response in [2 Samuel 7:4-17](/2_samuel/7-4 "2 Samuel 7:4-17 - God's Response to David") subverts this expectation, revealing that God would instead build a "house" (dynasty) for David, emphasizing divine initiative over human effort. This promise of an eternal dynasty was extraordinary, setting the Davidic line apart from other earthly kingdoms and establishing a unique covenant relationship. David's response reflects the proper posture of a faithful king before his divine suzerain, acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty and his own humble position.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [2 Samuel](/2_samuel/1 "The Book of 2 Samuel") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Omniscience**, emphasizing God's perfect and intimate knowledge of His creation, particularly His chosen servants. David's declaration, "for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant," underscores that God's understanding transcends human words or explanations. Secondly, it showcases **Profound Humility**, as David, the powerful king, recognizes his utter unworthiness in the face of God's boundless grace and promises ([2 Samuel 7:18](/2_samuel/7-18 "2 Samuel 7:18 - David's Humility")). His rhetorical question, "And what can David say more unto thee?", expresses a surrender to God's incomprehensible goodness. Thirdly, it reinforces the theme of **God's Unilateral Initiative and Faithfulness**. The covenant is entirely God's doing, not based on David's merit, prompting David's trust and dependence on the One who "knows" him so completely and promises so grandly.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord GOD (Hebrew, _ʾAdonai YHWH'_):** This compound divine title, used frequently in the Old Testament, is highly significant. _ʾAdonai_ (אֲדֹנָי) signifies "Master" or "Sovereign," emphasizing God's absolute authority, ownership, and supreme power. _YHWH_ (יְהוָה), the Tetragrammaton, is God's personal covenant name, revealing His relational, faithful, and self-existent character (cf. [Exodus 3:14](/exodus/3-14 "Exodus 3:14 - I AM WHO I AM")). The combination "Lord GOD" thus powerfully conveys God's supreme sovereignty alongside His intimate, covenantal faithfulness to His people. David addresses the One who is both the ultimate Ruler of the universe and his personal, covenant-keeping God.
* **knowest (Hebrew, _yadaʿ'_):** The verb _yadaʿ_ (יָדַע) in Hebrew signifies more than mere intellectual awareness or factual knowledge. It denotes a deep, experiential, intimate, and relational knowing. When applied to God, it implies a comprehensive understanding of a person's inner being, thoughts, intentions, and entire history. It's the kind of knowledge that God has of Abraham ([Genesis 18:19](/genesis/18-19 "Genesis 18:19 - God's Knowing of Abraham")) or Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 1:5](/jeremiah/1-5 "Jeremiah 1:5 - God Knew Jeremiah Before Birth")). David is not simply saying God knows facts about him, but that God knows him completely, personally, and profoundly, including his unworthiness and his deepest gratitude.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And what can David say more unto thee?":** This is a rhetorical question, expressing David's profound sense of inadequacy and humility. In the face of God's overwhelming grace and the magnitude of the eternal covenant promises, David feels that no words he could utter would be sufficient or could add anything to the divine understanding. It's an expression of being utterly speechless, not out of ignorance, but out of awe and being completely overwhelmed by God's goodness. It suggests that human language falls short in expressing the depths of gratitude and wonder appropriate for such a divine revelation.
* **"for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.":** This clause provides the reason for David's inability to say more. It is an affirmation of God's perfect omniscience and intimate knowledge of David. Because God, the sovereign and covenant-keeping Lord, already knows David fully—his heart, his thoughts, his past, his present, his very being, and even his unspoken gratitude—there is no need for David to elaborate further. This declaration is both a confession of God's comprehensive knowledge and a profound act of trust, resting in the assurance that God understands everything, including David's unworthiness and his humble acceptance of the extraordinary blessing.

#### Literary Devices
2 Samuel 7:20 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey David's profound response. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "And what can David say more unto thee?" This question is not posed to elicit an answer but to emphasize David's speechlessness and the overwhelming nature of God's grace. It highlights his humility and the inadequacy of human words. Following this, the verse uses **Apostrophe**, as David directly addresses God ("unto thee," "thou, Lord GOD"), creating an intimate and personal tone for his prayer. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in David's declaration that he "can say no more," not literally meaning he has run out of words, but that no words could adequately capture the immensity of God's blessing. Finally, the verse exhibits a subtle **Cause and Effect** relationship: David's inability to speak more (effect) is directly caused by God's perfect knowledge of him (cause), creating a logical and theological coherence within his expression of worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding the nature of divine-human relationship, highlighting God's initiative, omniscience, and the appropriate human response of humility and trust. It underscores that God's blessings are not earned but freely given, prompting a response of awe rather than an attempt to repay or impress. David's recognition that God "knows" him fully provides immense comfort and security, as it implies that God's plans and promises are founded on a perfect understanding of His servant's needs and capacity. This profound truth about God's intimate knowledge of His people resonates throughout Scripture, assuring believers that they are seen, understood, and cared for by their Creator.

* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalm/139-1 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Understanding is Unsearchable")
* [Romans 11:33-36](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33-36 - God's Unfathomable Wisdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's response in 2 Samuel 7:20 offers a powerful paradigm for our own spiritual lives. In moments of profound blessing, overwhelming grace, or even deep struggle, we often feel the inadequacy of our words. This verse teaches us that true worship and trust can sometimes manifest as humble silence, knowing that the Lord already comprehends our deepest thoughts, feelings, and gratitude. It invites us to rest in the comfort of God's perfect knowledge, freeing us from the need to constantly explain ourselves or prove our worth. When we recognize that God knows our every need, our every fear, and our every desire, we can surrender our anxieties and simply abide in His presence, confident that His perfect understanding leads to perfect provision and guidance. This humility before God's omniscience cultivates a deeper dependence and a more profound sense of peace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt so overwhelmed by God's goodness that words seemed insufficient? How did you respond in that moment?**
* **How does the truth that God "knows" you intimately (your past, present, and future, your strengths, and your weaknesses) bring you comfort or challenge you?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to try to "say more" or prove yourself to God, rather than resting in His perfect knowledge of you?**
* **How can acknowledging God's omniscience deepen your trust in His plans and promises for your life, even when circumstances are unclear?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of David saying, "what can David say more unto thee?"**

Answer: This rhetorical question signifies David's profound humility and awe in the face of God's overwhelming grace and the magnitude of the Davidic Covenant. It's not that David literally has nothing more to say, but rather that no human words could adequately express the depth of his gratitude or add anything to God's perfect understanding. It highlights his recognition of God's absolute sovereignty and his own unworthiness, prompting a response of worshipful silence and complete surrender to God's will. It's an admission that God's blessings are so immense that they transcend human articulation.

**How does God "know" His servant, as David states?**

Answer: When David says, "thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant," he is referring to God's comprehensive and intimate knowledge, which goes far beyond mere intellectual awareness. The Hebrew word _yadaʿ_ implies a deep, personal, experiential, and relational understanding. God knows David's heart, his innermost thoughts, his past actions, his future path, his weaknesses, and his strengths. This divine knowledge is perfect, complete, and foundational to God's covenant relationship with David. It assures David that God fully comprehends his situation, his needs, and his response to the covenant promise, even his unspoken feelings of gratitude and humility (see [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalm/139-1 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Samuel 7:20, with David's humble acknowledgment of God's omniscience in the context of the Davidic Covenant, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "house" and "throne" that God promised to establish forever for David ([2 Samuel 7:16](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:16 - The Eternal Davidic Throne")) are perfectly realized in Jesus, the Son of David, whose kingdom is eternal and whose reign is everlasting ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Jesus, Son of David, Eternal King")). Just as David was overwhelmed by God's unmerited favor, so too are believers overwhelmed by the grace extended through Christ, who, being God incarnate, perfectly "knows" humanity in all its frailty and need ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest Who Understands")). Jesus, the Lamb of God, did not need us to "say more" or prove our worth; He perfectly understood our sin and our need for salvation, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His divine knowledge ensures that the New Covenant, established through His blood, is perfectly suited to redeem and transform those whom the Father has given Him, for He knows His sheep and they know Him ([John 10:14](/john/10-14 "John 10:14 - Jesus Knows His Sheep")). Thus, David's humble surrender to God's knowing finds its ultimate echo in the believer's trust in Christ, who fully knows us and perfectly fulfills every promise of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 21:17

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Psalms 139:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

Genesis 18:19

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Revelation 2:23

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

John 2:25

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Hebrews 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.