2 Samuel 7:19
in 2 Samuel 7And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come; and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah!
KJV
And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?
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This verse in 2 Samuel 7
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Is this the manner of man - Compare 1Ch 17:17. Our passage may be thus understood: But this is the law (or prerogative) of a great man to found dynasties which are to last into the far future. David expresses his astonishment that he, of such humble birth, and one so little in his own eyes, should not only be raised to the throne, but be assured of the perpetuity of the succession in his descendants, as if he were a man of high degree.
This site's exposition
Who am I, O Lord God
on 2 Samuel 7:18-19
David's prayer opens on a question rather than a request, the shepherd who became king asking what he is that any of this should reach him. He calls the promise a small thing in God's sight next to what has already been given, and is this the manner of man turns the astonishment outward; no man speaks to another man's descendants this way. The older writers read this opening as the pattern for receiving a promise this size, wonder answered before petition is even offered.
This site's exposition
Is this Your custom with man
The Hebrew reads literally, this is the law of man. Barnes takes it as the right of a great man to found a lasting house, now given to a servant of humble birth, and Clarke asks whether it points to the promise made to Adam in Genesis 3:15. Henry reports a reading of one who is both man and Lord GOD.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
David, understanding this, says in the second book of Kings [Samuel] … "You did also speak of the house of your servant for a long time to come." And, further on, "And now begin and bless the house of your servant that it may endure forever," etc. At that time, David was about to beget his son through whom his lineage would be carried down to Christ; through whom, in turn, his house was to be everlasting—indeed, identified with the house of God. It was to be called the "house of David" because [it was] of David's stock and, simultaneously, the "house of God" because it was a temple to God made not of stones but of people. In this house God's people shall everlastingly dwell with their God and in their God, and God with his people and in his people, God filling his people, his people filled with their God, so that "God may be all in all"—the very same God being their prize in peace who was their strength in battle.It was with this in view that, when Nathan had said, "And the Lord said to you, that you shall build him a house," David said further on, "Because you, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to the ear of your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' " This is a house which we build by living virtuously and which God builds by helping us to live virtuously, for "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Only, however, when this house receives its final consecration will the words God spoke by Nathan's lips come true: "And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before, from the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel."
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
A great while - For many future ages, and indeed to all eternity. Is this, &c. - Do men use to deal so kindly with their inferiors, as thou hast done with me? No: this is the prerogative of divine grace.
Some give another sense of this, reading it thus: And this is the law of man, the Lord Jehovah, that is, "This promise of one whose kingdom shall be established for ever must be understood of one that is a man and yet the Lord Jehovah, this must be the law of such a one.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God,....
And, in both these, there is an eye to the Messiah and his kingdom. 1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the L ORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
DAVID was overwhelmed with the mercy of God! Nathan's message was too much for him. He felt emotions in his bosom which he could not express. Like a wise man, he went at once, while under the impulse of gratitude, into the place of nearness to God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
is this the manner of man, O Lord God?--that is, is it customary for men to show such condescension to persons so humble as I am?
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
DAVID was overwhelmed with the mercy of God! Nathan's message was too much for him. He felt emotions in his bosom which he could not express. Like a wise man, he went at once, while under the impulse of gratitude, into the place of nearness to God. It was not everyone who might go in and sit before the Lord as he did, but he felt he had a special call to draw near unto the Most High—and there he sat down in the posture of waiting to receive the fulfillment of what was promised, in the posture of rest—as one who had, now, all that he could desire and was pressed down under the weight of blessing. Yet the Psalmist's sitting was also a posture of worship and surely of all passages of Scripture none can be said to contain more true adoration than that which is now before us. The king sat, however, before the Lord. The mercy had all come from God and therefore to God all his praise was offered. His soul waited only upon the Lord, because his expectation was alone from Him. He was conscious of being in the sacred Presence and he sat there, feeling that by the Covenant Blessing he had been brought very near, and his spirit exulted in that nearness! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the mercies which God has shown to us are as great as those which He manifested to His servant David! And if the Spirit of God has opened our eyes to see and understand them, we may, this morning, ardently wish to do precisely what David did.
And is this the manner of man - Literally: And this, O Lord God, is the law of Adam. Does he refer to the promise made to Adam, The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent? From my line shall the Messiah spring, and be the spiritual and triumphant King, for ever and ever. See the additions at the end, 2Sa 7:25 (note).
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַתִּקְטַן֩ | vatiktan | and it was small | H6994 → | |
| ע֨וֹד | od | yet | H5750 → | 490 times |
| זֹ֤את | zot | this [thing] | H2063 → | 603 times |
| בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ | beeineikha | in view your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֣י | ʾadonai | O Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יְהוִ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3069 → | 306 times |
| וַתְּדַבֵּ֛ר | vatedaber | and you have spoken | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| גַּ֥ם | gam | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | concerning | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בֵּֽית־ | beit- | [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| עַבְדְּךָ֖ | ʾavdekha | servant your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| לְמֵֽרָח֑וֹק | lemerachok | <to> from distant [time] | H7350 → | |
| וְזֹ֛את | vezot | and this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| תּוֹרַ֥ת | torat | [is] [the] manner of | H8452 → | |
| הָאָדָ֖ם | haadam | <the> humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֥י | ʾadonai | O Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יְהוִֽה׃ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3069 → | 306 times |
וַתִּקְטַן֩and it was small
vatiktanH6994 →
ע֨וֹדyet
odH5750 →490 times
זֹ֤אתthis [thing]
zotH2063 →603 times
בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙in view your
beeineikhaH5869 →887 times
אֲדֹנָ֣יO Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יְהוִ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3069 →306 times
וַתְּדַבֵּ֛רand you have spoken
vatedaberH1696 →1141 times
גַּ֥םalso
gamH1571 →769 times
אֶל־concerning
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
בֵּֽית־[the] house of
beit-H1004 →2046 times
עַבְדְּךָ֖servant your
ʾavdekhaH5650 →799 times
לְמֵֽרָח֑וֹק<to> from distant [time]
lemerachokH7350 →
וְזֹ֛אתand this
vezotH2063 →603 times
תּוֹרַ֥ת[is] [the] manner of
toratH8452 →
הָאָדָ֖ם<the> humankind
haadamH120 →551 times
אֲדֹנָ֥יO Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יְהוִֽה׃Yahweh
yahwehH3069 →306 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 36:7How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
it leads to
- Psalms 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
- 1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is…
- Ruth 2:12
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
- Psalms 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
- 1 John 4:9–10
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
- Psalms 86:5
Through
Ephesians 2:7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:16–17
But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him…
- Titus 3:4
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- Ephesians 2:4
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- 1 Timothy 1:16–17
Where this verse is studied
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About 2 Samuel
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alfred Edersheim, Bible History: Old Testament; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 17.12; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1166: “Marrow and Fatness” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.