2 Chronicles 6:16

14 and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

15 You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.

Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’

17 And now, O LORD, God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant David.

18 But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’
KJV
Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
WEB
“Now therefore, LORD, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
ASV
Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.
DARBY
And now, Jehovah, God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy sons take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
BLB
And now, O YHWH, God of Israel, keep for Your servant David my father what You spoke to him, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man before Me, to sit on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, to walk in My law, as you have walked before My face.’
ÅB
Så hold nå og, Herre, Israels Gud, det du lovte din tjener David, min far, da du sa: Det skal aldri fattes en mann av din slekt til å sitte på Israels trone for mitt åsyn, så sant dine barn akter på sin vei og vandrer etter min lov, som du har vandret for mitt åsyn.
OTB
Nå da, Herre, Israels Gud, hold for Din tjener, min far David, det som Du har lovet ham, og sa, 'Du skal ikke mangle en mann til å sitte på Israels trone, hvis bare dine sønner tar vare på sin vei, for å vandre i Min lov som du har vandret for Meg.'
B1930
Så hold nu og, Herre, Israels Gud, det du lovte din tjener David, min far, da du sa: Det skal aldri fattes en mann av din ætt til å sitte på Israels trone for mitt åsyn, så sant dine barn akter på sin vei og vandrer efter min lov, som du har vandret for mitt åsyn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 2:4

    and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

    Read in context
  • John 15:14–15

    You are My friends if you do what I command you.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 132:12

    If your sons keep My covenant and the testimony I will teach them, then their sons will also sit on your throne forever and ever.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 7:18

    then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’

    Read in context
  • Psalms 119:1

    Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 7:12–16

    And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 36:37

    This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock.

    Read in context