The Meaning of 2 Samuel 7:5 Explained

2 Samuel 7:5

KJV: Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

YLT: 'Go, and thou hast said unto My servant, unto David, Thus said Jehovah, Dost thou build for Me a house for My dwelling in?

Darby: Go and say to my servant, to David, Thus saith Jehovah: Wilt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?

ASV: Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Go  and tell  my servant  David,  Thus saith  the LORD,  Shalt thou build  me an house  for me to dwell in? 

What does 2 Samuel 7:5 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 7:5 mean?

go and tell unto My servant to David thus says Yahweh: would you build for Me a house to dwell in
לֵ֤ךְ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ אֶל־ עַבְדִּ֣י אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה הַאַתָּ֛ה תִּבְנֶה־ לִּ֥י בַ֖יִת לְשִׁבְתִּֽי

לֵ֤ךְ  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙  and  tell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
עַבְדִּ֣י  My  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
דָּוִ֔ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
כֹּ֖ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh: 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַאַתָּ֛ה  would  you 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
תִּבְנֶה־  build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
לִּ֥י  for  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בַ֖יִת  a  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לְשִׁבְתִּֽי  to  dwell  in 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.