The Meaning of 2 Samuel 7:6 Explained

2 Samuel 7:6

KJV: Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

YLT: for I have not dwelt in a house even from the day of My bringing up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, even unto this day, and am walking up and down in a tent and in a tabernacle.

Darby: For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but I went about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

ASV: for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whereas I have not dwelt  in [any] house  since the time  that I brought up  the children  of Israel  out of Egypt,  even to this day,  but have walked  in a tent  and in a tabernacle. 

What does 2 Samuel 7:6 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 7:1-17 - The Glorious Future Of David's House
Always do better for the cause of God than for yourself. You have no right to dwell in cedar, while God's Ark is under curtains. Also, beware of giving directions or advice, unless you have first consulted God. You may be as good as Nathan, but, if you speak apart from the divine Spirit, you will probably be compelled, on the following morning, to eat your words.
David's intention was good, but neither was he the man nor was that the time for temple-building. See 1 Chronicles 22:8. The sword could not yet be exchanged for the trowel, but in the meantime the will was accepted in lieu of the act. It was then God's turn to pour out a perfect avalanche of blessing, which must have made David forget those weary years of waiting and wandering. Do not be anxious about the future. Use your life and all its resources for God, and he will care for you. No tongue can exaggerate the goodness and mercy which God lays up for them that trust in Him before the sons of men. And it is because He loves that He does not hesitate to chasten. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 7:6 mean?

For not I have dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up - the sons of Israel from Egypt and even to day this but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ בְּבַ֔יִת לְ֠מִיּוֹם הַעֲלֹתִ֞י אֶת־ בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וְעַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶֽהְיֶה֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ בְּאֹ֖הֶל וּבְמִשְׁכָּֽן

יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙  I  have  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּבַ֔יִת  in  a  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לְ֠מִיּוֹם  since  the  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַעֲלֹתִ֞י  that  I  brought  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּנֵ֤י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם  from  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וְעַ֖ד  and  even  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הַיּ֣וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וָאֶֽהְיֶה֙  but  have 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ  moved  about 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּאֹ֖הֶל  in  a  tent 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
וּבְמִשְׁכָּֽן  and  in  a  tabernacle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.