The Meaning of 2 Samuel 7:7 Explained

2 Samuel 7:7

KJV: 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?

YLT: 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?

Darby: In all my going about with all the children of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye me not a house of cedars?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does 2 Samuel 7:7 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 7:7 mean?

In all wherever I have moved about with all the sons of Israel have a word I ever spoken to one of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd - My people Israel saying why not have you built Me a house of cedar
בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־ הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮ בְּכָל־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ הֲדָבָ֣ר דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי אֶת־ אַחַד֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּ֗יתִי לִרְע֛וֹת אֶת־ עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֛מָּה לֹֽא־ בְנִיתֶ֥ם לִ֖י בֵּ֥ית ؟ אֲרָזִֽים

בְּכֹ֥ל  In  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶֽׁר־  wherever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֮  I  have  moved  about 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒  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.
הֲדָבָ֣ר  have  a  word 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי  I  ever  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אַחַד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
שִׁבְטֵ֣י  of  the  tribes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  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.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
צִוִּ֗יתִי  I  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לִרְע֛וֹת  to  shepherd 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
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.
עַמִּ֥י  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  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.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָ֛מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
בְנִיתֶ֥ם  have  you  built 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
לִ֖י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בֵּ֥ית  a  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
؟ אֲרָזִֽים  of  cedar 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.