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2 Samuel 7:12

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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.

And when thy days {H3117} be fulfilled {H4390}, and thou shalt sleep {H7901} with thy fathers {H1}, I will set up {H6965} thy seed {H2233} after {H310} thee, which shall proceed {H3318} out of thy bowels {H4578}, and I will establish {H3559} his kingdom {H4467}.

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

And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

Commentary

2 Samuel 7:12 is a pivotal verse within the Davidic Covenant, a foundational promise from God to King David. It marks a significant moment in biblical history, establishing a lineage that ultimately points to the Messiah.

Context

This verse comes during a time when King David, having secured peace and settled in his palace, expresses a desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, feeling it inappropriate for God's presence to dwell in a tent while he lived in a house of cedar (2 Samuel 7:2). Through the prophet Nathan, God responds not by accepting David's offer to build Him a house, but by promising to build David a "house" of a different kind – a lasting dynasty and an eternal kingdom. This promise is unconditional and forms the bedrock of messianic expectation.

Key Themes

  • The Davidic Covenant: This verse is a cornerstone of the Davidic Covenant, an unconditional promise from God to David that his throne and kingdom would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
  • Dynastic Succession: God promises that David's "seed" (descendant) will succeed him on the throne. While initially fulfilled by David's son Solomon (1 Kings 2:10-12), the promise extends far beyond him.
  • Eternal Kingdom: The most profound aspect is the promise to "establish his kingdom." This points to a reign that transcends earthly limitations, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom has no end (Luke 1:32-33; Isaiah 9:7).
  • God's Faithfulness: This promise highlights God's initiative and unwavering faithfulness to His chosen servants and His overarching redemptive plan for humanity.

Linguistic Insights

  • "thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers": This is a common biblical idiom for death, indicating that the promise concerns David's legacy after his earthly life concludes.
  • "thy seed... which shall proceed out of thy bowels": The Hebrew word for "seed" (zera') here emphasizes a direct, biological descendant, ensuring the continuity of David's line.
  • "I will establish his kingdom": The Hebrew verb for "establish" (kun) denotes making something firm, secure, or permanent. It underscores the divine guarantee behind the enduring nature of this kingdom, far beyond human efforts or political stability.

Practical Application

The promise in 2 Samuel 7:12 offers profound comfort and hope. It reminds us that God's plans are eternal and transcend individual lives. Even when human leaders pass away, God's purposes endure. For believers, this verse strengthens faith in the person of Jesus Christ as the promised King, the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. It points to a kingdom that is not of this world, yet has implications for how we live today, knowing that we serve an eternal King and are part of His everlasting kingdom.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 2:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

  • 1 Kings 8:20 (7 votes)

    And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

  • Acts 2:30 (7 votes)

    Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

  • Acts 13:36 (6 votes)

    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:

  • Psalms 132:11 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Psalms 132:12 (5 votes)

    If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

  • Deuteronomy 31:16 (5 votes)

    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.