2 Samuel 7:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 7:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee.
2 Samuel 7:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Nathan said to the king, go, do till that [is] in thine heart, etc.] He perceived it was in his heart to build an house for God; he knew an house was to be built at one time or another, by some person or another; he knew it was a good work, and fit for a king to do, and might think this was a proper time any, he being at leisure, and therefore encouraged him to it: but inasmuch as the time when and the person by whom this was to be built were not pointed out particularly in the word of God, David and he should have consulted the Lord about it; in this they erred, and for which they were tacitly reproved; for, as the event shows, this was not the time when, nor David the person by whom,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart--The piety of the design commended it to the prophet's mind, and he gave his hasty approval and encouragement to the royal plans. The prophets, when following the impulse of their own feelings, or forming conjectural opinions, fell into frequent mistakes. (See on Sa1 16:6; Kg2 4:27).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Nathan said - Pursue thy intentions, and build an house for the ark. The design being pious and the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it, before he had consulted God about it, as both he and David ought to have done in a matter of so great moment. And therefore Nathan meets with this rebuke, that he is forced to acknowledge his error, and recant it. For the holy prophets did not speak all things by prophetic inspiration, but some things by an human spirit. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:3 Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind: Nathan’s counsel to David was Nathan’s own idea. As it turned out, God disqualified David from building the Temple (see 1 Chr 22:8). Even true prophets are fallible when speaking on their own initiative rather than from God’s revelation.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“do: Kg2 4:27 all that: Sa1 16:7; Kg1 8:17, Kg1 8:18; Ch1 22:7, Ch1 28:2; Psa 20:4, Psa 37:4 for the: Sa1 10:7; Jo1 2:27 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification