2 Samuel 7:11-13

7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief ¹  from all your enemies. The Lord declares ²  to you that he himself ³  will build a dynastic house ⁴  for you. 7:12 When the time comes for you to die, ⁵  I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, ⁶  and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. ⁷ 

2 Samuel 7:27-29

7:27 for you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have told ⁸  your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’ ⁹  That is why your servant has had the courage ¹⁰  to pray this prayer to you. 7:28 Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! ¹¹  May your words prove to be true! ¹²  You have made this good promise to your servant! ¹³  7:29 Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty ¹⁴  so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed on into the future!” ¹⁵ 

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¹ tn Or “rest.”

² tn In the Hebrew text the verb is apparently perfect with vav consecutive, which would normally suggest a future sense (“he will declare”; so the LXX, ἀπαγγελεῖ [apangelei]). But the context seems instead to call for a present or past nuance (“he declares” or “he has declared”). The synoptic passage in 1 Chr 17:10 has וָאַגִּד (va’aggid, “and I declared”). The construction used in 2 Sam 7:11 highlights this important statement.

³ tn Heb “the Lord.”

⁴ tn Heb “house,” but used here in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. Here the Lord’s use of the word plays off the literal sense that David had in mind as he contemplated building a temple for the Lord. To reflect this in the English translation the adjective “dynastic” has been supplied.

⁵ tn Heb, “when your days are full and you lie down with your ancestors.”

⁶ tn Heb “your seed after you who comes out from your insides.”

⁷ tn Heb “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently.”

⁸ tn Heb “have uncovered the ear of.”

⁹ tn Heb “a house.” This maintains the wordplay from v. 11 (see the note on the word “house” there) and is continued in v. 29.

¹⁰ tn Heb “has found his heart.”

¹¹ tn Heb “the God.” The article indicates uniqueness here.

¹² tn The translation understands the prefixed verb form as a jussive, indicating David’s wish/prayer. Another option is to take the form as an imperfect and translate “your words are true.”

¹³ tn Heb “and you have spoken to your servant this good thing.”

¹⁴ tn Heb “house” (again later in this verse). See the note on “dynastic house” in v. 27.

¹⁵ tn Or “permanently”; cf. NLT “it is an eternal blessing.”