Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 6:16
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.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Solomon addresses Yahweh during the temple dedication, petitioning God to uphold the covenant made with David. He speaks immediately after acknowledging that God has already fulfilled past promises.
The words — The verb שְׁ֠מֹר (She.mor) means "keep" or "guard," functioning as a direct plea for God to preserve the Davidic promise. The phrase לְ/עַבְדְּ/ךָ֨ דָוִ֤יד אָבִ/י (le./'av.de./Kha da.Vid 'a.V/i) literally translates to "to Your servant, my father David."
The thread — This covenant condition appears in 1 Kings 2:4, 2 Chronicles 7:18, and Psalm 132:12, consistently tying royal succession to descendant obedience. The promise establishes a conditional framework for the Davidic throne across the historical and wisdom literature.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers recognize divine promises operate within the bounds of covenantal obedience. It requires a direct response to the condition that walking in God's law determines the continuation of His pledged blessings.
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
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.
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.’
- 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.’
- 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.”
- John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
- 2 Samuel 7:12 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.
- Psalms 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.
- 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.
- 1 Kings 6:12 “As for this temple you are building, if you walk in My statutes, carry out My ordinances, and keep all My commandments by walking in them, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.
- Psalms 26:3 For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.