2 Samuel 7:7
New International Version
Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’

New Living Translation
Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’

English Standard Version
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

Berean Standard Bible
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

King James Bible
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

New King James Version
Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’

New American Standard Bible
Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

NASB 1995
“Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’"’

NASB 1977
“Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

Legacy Standard Bible
Wherever I have gone about with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

Amplified Bible
Wherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, asking, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

Christian Standard Bible
In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar? ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’”

American Standard Version
In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?

Contemporary English Version
I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me?

English Revised Version
In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedar?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In all the places I've moved with all the Israelites, did I ever ask any of the judges of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people Israel why they didn't build me a house of cedar?'

Good News Translation
In all my traveling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.'

International Standard Version
Wherever I moved among the Israelis, did I ever ask even one tribal leader of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, 'Why haven't you built me a cedar house?'

Majority Standard Bible
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

NET Bible
Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?"'

New Heart English Bible
In all places in which I have walked throughout Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'"'

Webster's Bible Translation
In all the places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel have I spoken a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why do ye not build me a house of cedar?

World English Bible
In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
During all [the time] that I have walked up and down among all the sons of Israel, have I spoken a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built a house of cedars for Me?

Young's Literal Translation
During all the time that I have walked up and down among all the sons of Israel, a word have I spoken with one of the tribes of Israel which I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, 'Why have ye not built to Me a house of cedars?

Smith's Literal Translation
And in all where I went among all the sons of Israel spake I a word with one of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why built ye not to me a house of cedars?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in all the places that I have crossed through, with all the sons of Israel, did I ever speak a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I instructed to pasture my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’

New American Bible
As long as I have wandered about among the Israelites, did I ever say a word to any of the judges whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

New Revised Standard Version
Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
In all the places where I have walked with all the children of Israel, have I spoken to any of those whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In every place where I walked in all of the children of Israel, did I speak a word to one of the tribes of Israel that I commanded to shepherd my people Israel saying: “Why have you not built for me a house of cedar?"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In all places wherein I have walked among all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
wheresoever I went with all Israel. Have I ever spoken to any of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to tend my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of Cedar?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Covenant with David
6For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. 7In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’ 8Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 17:6
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

Acts 7:48-50
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: / ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things?’

Isaiah 66:1-2
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Jeremiah 7:25
From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again.

Jeremiah 25:4
And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.

Jeremiah 35:15
Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 23:34
Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

Luke 11:49
Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

1 Kings 8:16
‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

1 Kings 9:3
And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.

1 Kings 9:6-7
But if indeed you or your sons turn away from following Me and do not keep the commandments and statutes I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods, / then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples.

2 Chronicles 6:5
‘Since the day I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over My people Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build you not me an house of cedar?

walked

Leviticus 26:11,12
And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you…

any of the tribes

1 Chronicles 17:6
Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

any of the judges

2 Samuel 7:11
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

feed

2 Samuel 5:2
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

Psalm 78:71,72
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance…

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

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2 Samuel 7
1. Nathan, first approving the purpose of David to build God a house
4. After by the word of God forbids him
12. God promises him benefits and blessings in his seed
18. David's prayer and thanksgiving














In all My journeys
The phrase "In all My journeys" reflects God's active presence and guidance throughout the history of Israel. The Hebrew word for "journeys" (מַסְעַי, mas'ai) implies movement and pilgrimage, indicating that God was not stationary but dynamically involved with His people. This highlights the relational aspect of God, who is not confined to a single location but accompanies His people wherever they go. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His commitment to be with His people through every trial and triumph.

with all the Israelites
This phrase underscores the collective experience of the nation of Israel. The Hebrew term for "Israelites" (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el) is significant as it denotes the descendants of Jacob, who was renamed Israel after wrestling with God. This name carries the connotation of struggle and perseverance, reflecting the nation's history. God's journeys with "all the Israelites" emphasize His covenant relationship with the entire nation, not just a select few, reinforcing the idea that His promises and presence are for all His people.

have I ever asked
The rhetorical question "have I ever asked" is a powerful literary device used by God to make a point. The Hebrew root שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to inquire or request. This question highlights that God had never demanded a permanent dwelling place, such as a temple, from His people. It serves to remind the Israelites that God's presence and favor are not contingent upon human constructions or rituals but on His sovereign will and grace.

any of the leaders I appointed
The phrase "any of the leaders I appointed" refers to the divinely chosen leaders throughout Israel's history, such as Moses, Joshua, and the judges. The Hebrew word for "appointed" (צִוִּיתִי, tziviti) implies a divine commissioning or command. This underscores the fact that leadership in Israel was not based on human ambition but on God's sovereign choice. It also highlights the responsibility of these leaders to shepherd God's people according to His will, not their own.

to shepherd My people Israel
The metaphor "to shepherd My people Israel" is rich with meaning. The Hebrew verb רָעָה (ra'ah) means to tend or shepherd, evoking the image of a shepherd caring for his flock. This imagery is frequently used in Scripture to describe the relationship between God and His people, as well as the role of leaders. It emphasizes care, guidance, and protection, reflecting God's nurturing character and His desire for His leaders to emulate these qualities.

‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’
The question "‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’" is rhetorical, highlighting that God never required a physical temple. The term "house of cedar" refers to a grand and permanent structure, as cedar was a valuable and durable wood used in significant buildings. This question challenges the assumption that God needs a physical dwelling, pointing instead to the truth that God is not limited by human constructs. It serves as a reminder that God's presence is not confined to a building but is with His people wherever they are. This anticipates the New Testament revelation that believers themselves are the temple of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing a personal and spiritual relationship with God.

(7) The tribes.--In the parallel place, 1Chronicles 17:6, the word is "judges," the difference in Hebrew being only of a single similar letter. But a like use of "tribes" for the judges sprung from them may be found in Psalm 78:67-68; 1Chronicles 28:4.

Verse 7. - In all the places wherein I have walked; Hebrew, in all wherein I continued walking; that is, in all my walking, in all the whole time wherein I have been a wanderer. Instead of tribes, the Chronicler (1 Chronicles 17:6) reads "judges," the words in the Hebrew being almost identical. "Judges" is, of course, the more easy and natural reading, but "tribes" gives a fuller sense, and is supported by all the versions. For in the troubled anarchy which lasted until Saul's reign, first one tribe and then another was called to the front, and had a temporary ascendancy; but neither did Jehovah give it any command to provide a settled place for his worship, nor did any one of the judges conceive the thought of making his tribe permanently the chief, by providing a fixed abode for the ark and for God's worship within its borders. To feed my people Israel. The shepherd, in biblical language, is the ruler, and to feed is to govern, yet in a kindly way, going in front as the shepherd before his flock, to bear the brunt of danger, to clear the road, and to guide into the safe pastures. So tribe after tribe had been called to bear the brunt of war, and, after winning deliverance, it became its duty to guide and lead the people. In 1 Kings 8:16, 18, 25, and still more remarkably in 1 Chronicles 22:8, 9, we find large additions made to the account here given. It follows that we have in this place only a brief summary of the message brought by Nathan, but one containing all the chief points.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In all
בְּכֹ֥ל (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

My journeys
הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮ (hiṯ·hal·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the Israelites,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

have I ever asked
דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי (dib·bar·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

any
אַחַד֙ (’a·ḥaḏ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

[of the leaders],
שִׁבְטֵ֣י (šiḇ·ṭê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

whom
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I commanded
צִוִּ֗יתִי (ṣiw·wî·ṯî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

to shepherd
לִרְע֛וֹת (lir·‘ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

My people
עַמִּ֥י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

‘Why
לָ֛מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have you not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

built
בְנִיתֶ֥ם (ḇə·nî·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1129: To build

Me
לִ֖י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

a house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of cedar?’
אֲרָזִֽים׃ (’ă·rā·zîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 730: A cedar tree


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OT History: 2 Samuel 7:7 In all places in which I have (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 7:6
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