The Meaning of 2 Samuel 7:8 Explained

2 Samuel 7:8

KJV: Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

YLT: and now, thus dost thou say to My servant, to David: 'Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have taken thee from the comely place, from after the flock, to be leader over My people, over Israel;

Darby: And now, thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I took thee from the pasture-grounds, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel;

ASV: Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people, over Israel;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore so shalt thou say  unto my servant  David,  Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts,  I took  thee from the sheepcote,  from following  the sheep,  to be ruler  over my people,  over Israel: 

What does 2 Samuel 7:8 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 7:8 mean?

therefore now thus shall you say to My servant David thus says Yahweh of hosts I took you from the sheepfold from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel
וְ֠עַתָּה כֹּֽה־ תֹאמַ֞ר לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְדָוִ֗ד כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲנִ֤י לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־ הַנָּוֶ֔ה מֵאַחַ֖ר הַצֹּ֑אן לִֽהְי֣וֹת נָגִ֔יד עַל־ עַמִּ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְ֠עַתָּה  therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
כֹּֽה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
תֹאמַ֞ר  shall  you  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְעַבְדִּ֣י  to  My  servant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לְדָוִ֗ד  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
כֹּ֤ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַר֙  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֔וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙  took  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
הַנָּוֶ֔ה  the  sheepfold 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָוֶה 
Sense: abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture.
מֵאַחַ֖ר  from  following 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הַצֹּ֑אן  the  sheep 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
לִֽהְי֣וֹת  to  be 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נָגִ֔יד  ruler 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָגִיד  
Sense: leader, ruler, captain, prince.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עַמִּ֖י  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.