1 Chronicles 17:6

In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks to David through the prophet Nathan, contrasting His mobile tabernacle with David’s proposal to construct a permanent temple.

The words — The Hebrew הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי (hit.ha.lakh.Ti) translates literally to “I went about” or “I journeyed,” paired with בְּכֹל (be./Khol) meaning “in all,” to emphasize God’s mobile presence among Israel.

The thread — This declaration of divine mobility runs parallel to 2 Samuel 7:7 and recalls the wilderness wanderings recorded in Numbers 10:33.

Why it lands — The text records God’s direct rhetorical question to David about building a cedar house. This establishes that God’s presence among Israel was not dependent on a fixed sanctuary before any theological application follows.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

Cross-references

2 Samuel 7:7 In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’
Numbers 10:33 So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.
1 Chronicles 11:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Exodus 33:14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 40:35 Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Leviticus 26:11 And I will make My dwelling place among you, and My soul will not despise you.
Deuteronomy 23:14 For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.
Judges 2:16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
1 Samuel 12:11 So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.
Psalms 78:71 from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.