2 Samuel 7:1-17

→Bible→Old Testament→2 Samuel
RSV

¹ Now when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round about, ² the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” . . .  ⁴ But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ⁵ “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. . . .  ⁸ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, . . .  I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. . . .  Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. ¹² When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. . . .  ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’”

The meanings of "house"

The word "house" clearly has two meanings: the building (in this case, a palace or temple); and the family living living in it, through its generations. Compare the reading of the first section of Genesis as the creation of a dwelling.