The Meaning of 2 Samuel 7:12 Explained

2 Samuel 7:12

KJV: And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

YLT: 'When thy days are full, and thou hast lain with thy fathers, then I have raised up thy seed after thee which goeth out from thy bowels, and have established his kingdom;

Darby: When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

ASV: When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when thy days  be fulfilled,  and thou shalt sleep  with thy fathers,  I will set up  thy seed  after  thee, which shall proceed  out of thy bowels,  and I will establish  his kingdom. 

What does 2 Samuel 7:12 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 7:1-17 - The Glorious Future Of David's House
Always do better for the cause of God than for yourself. You have no right to dwell in cedar, while God's Ark is under curtains. Also, beware of giving directions or advice, unless you have first consulted God. You may be as good as Nathan, but, if you speak apart from the divine Spirit, you will probably be compelled, on the following morning, to eat your words.
David's intention was good, but neither was he the man nor was that the time for temple-building. See 1 Chronicles 22:8. The sword could not yet be exchanged for the trowel, but in the meantime the will was accepted in lieu of the act. It was then God's turn to pour out a perfect avalanche of blessing, which must have made David forget those weary years of waiting and wandering. Do not be anxious about the future. Use your life and all its resources for God, and he will care for you. No tongue can exaggerate the goodness and mercy which God lays up for them that trust in Him before the sons of men. And it is because He loves that He does not hesitate to chasten. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 7

1  Nathan, first approving the purpose of David to build God a house
4  After by the word of God forbids him
12  God promises him benefits and blessings in his seed
18  David's prayer and thanksgiving

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 7:12 mean?

When are fulfilled your days and you rest with your fathers and I will set up - your seed after you who will come from your body and I will establish - his kingdom
כִּ֣י ׀ יִמְלְא֣וּ יָמֶ֗יךָ וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ֙ אֶת־ אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִ֤י אֶֽת־ זַרְעֲךָ֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵצֵ֖א מִמֵּעֶ֑יךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִ֖י אֶת־ מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ

יִמְלְא֣וּ  are  fulfilled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
יָמֶ֗יךָ  your  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ֙  and  you  rest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ  your  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַהֲקִימֹתִ֤י  and  I  will  set  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
זַרְעֲךָ֙  your  seed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ  after  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
יֵצֵ֖א  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מִמֵּעֶ֑יךָ  from  your  body 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מֵעֶה  
Sense: internal organs, inward parts, bowels, intestines, belly.
וַהֲכִינֹתִ֖י  and  I  will  establish 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ  his  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַמְלָכָה  
Sense: kingdom, dominion, reign, sovereignty.