Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign LORD. New Living Translation “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign LORD. English Standard Version And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Berean Standard Bible What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. Berean Literal Bible And what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord YHWH. King James Bible And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. New King James Version Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, know Your servant. New American Standard Bible Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord GOD! NASB 1995 “Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD! NASB 1977 “And again what more can David say to Thee? For Thou knowest Thy servant, O Lord GOD! Legacy Standard Bible And again what more can David say to You? And You know Your slave, O Lord Yahweh! Amplified Bible What more can David say to You? For You know (acknowledge, choose) Your servant, O Lord GOD. Berean Annotated Bible What more can David (beloved) say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}. Christian Standard Bible What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD. Holman Christian Standard Bible What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, Lord GOD. American Standard Version And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah. Contemporary English Version I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. English Revised Version And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord GOD. GOD'S WORD® Translation "What more can I, David, say to you, Almighty LORD, since you know me so well! Good News Translation What more can I say to you! You know me, your servant. International Standard Version "What more can David say to you, and you surely know your servant, Lord GOD. NET Bible What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! New Heart English Bible And what more can David add to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant, LORD. Webster's Bible Translation And what can David say more to thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhat more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. World English Bible What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd what does David add more to speak to You? And You, You have known Your servant, Lord YHWH. Berean Literal Bible And what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord YHWH. Young's Literal Translation And what doth David add more to speak unto Thee? and Thou, Thou hast known Thy servant, Lord Jehovah. Smith's Literal Translation And what shall David yet add to speak to thee? for thou knewest thy servant, Lord Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God: Catholic Public Domain Version Therefore, what more will David be able to say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God. New American Bible What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD! New Revised Standard Version And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd what more can thy servant David say to thee? For thou knowest thy servant, O LORD God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And what will your Servant David more say to you? You know your Servant, LORD JEHOVAH God! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And what can David say more unto Thee? for Thou knowest Thy servant, O Lord GOD. Brenton Septuagint Translation And what shall David yet say to thee? and now thou knowest thy servant, O Lord, my Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David's Prayer of Thanksgiving…19And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD? 20What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. 21For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant.… Cross References What more can David say to You? 1 Chronicles 17:18 What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant, Job 40:4-5 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth. / I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.” Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count. For You know Your servant, Psalm 139:1-4 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. … Exodus 33:12 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’ Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” O Lord GOD. Genesis 15:2 But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Ezekiel 37:3 Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.” 1 Kings 18:36 At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. Psalm 8:4 what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 144:3 O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him? Genesis 32:10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Exodus 3:11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 1 Samuel 18:18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” 1 Samuel 24:14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 1 Kings 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in. Treasury of Scripture And what can David say more to you? for you, Lord GOD, know your servant. knowest Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Psalm 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Jump to Previous Add David Servant Sovereign Speak ThouJump to Next Add David Servant Sovereign Speak Thou2 Samuel 7 1. Nathan, first approving the purpose of David to build God a house4. 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 more can David say to You? David expresses humility and awe in response to God's promises. This phrase reflects a deep sense of gratitude and recognition of God's sovereignty. In the context of 2 Samuel 7, God has just made a covenant with David, promising that his lineage will endure forever. This covenant is significant as it establishes the Davidic line, which is central to the messianic prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. David's rhetorical question underscores his acknowledgment of God's overwhelming grace and the inadequacy of human words to fully express gratitude. For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe second king of Israel, known for his deep relationship with God and his role in establishing Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel. 2. Lord GOD (Yahweh Elohim) The covenant name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and relationship with His people. 3. Nathan the Prophet Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Nathan plays a crucial role in delivering God's covenant promise to David earlier in the chapter. 4. Jerusalem The city where David established his kingdom and where God promised to establish David's dynasty. 5. Davidic Covenant The divine promise made by God to David, ensuring that his lineage would endure forever, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Teaching Points God's Intimate KnowledgeGod knows us deeply and personally, just as He knew David. This should encourage us to approach Him with honesty and openness in prayer. Humility Before God David's response to God's promise is one of humility and awe. We should cultivate a similar attitude, recognizing our dependence on God's grace and sovereignty. Faith in God's Promises The Davidic Covenant is a testament to God's faithfulness. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises in our lives, even when we cannot see the full picture. Legacy and Eternal Perspective David's concern was not just for his immediate reign but for the enduring legacy of his house. We should consider how our actions today impact future generations and align with God's eternal purposes. Christ as the Fulfillment Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to David. Our faith should be centered on Christ, who reigns eternally and invites us into His kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 7:20?2. How does 2 Samuel 7:20 demonstrate God's intimate knowledge of His servants? 3. What does David's humility in 2 Samuel 7:20 teach us about prayer? 4. How can we apply David's acknowledgment of God's omniscience in our daily lives? 5. What other scriptures emphasize God's complete knowledge of our hearts and actions? 6. How does recognizing God's omniscience affect our relationship with Him today? 7. How does 2 Samuel 7:20 reflect God's covenant with David? 8. What is the significance of David's humility in 2 Samuel 7:20? 9. How does 2 Samuel 7:20 demonstrate God's omniscience? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 7? 11. Why does God prohibit David from building the temple in 2 Samuel 7 yet allow Solomon to do so, raising questions of consistency in divine commands? 12. How do we reconcile the differences between 1 Chronicles 17 and 2 Samuel 7 regarding the details of God's covenant with David? 13. How can Ezekiel 37:25-28's everlasting covenant and sanctuary be understood when there seems to be no clear historical or present-day fulfillment matching this depiction? 14. Why does God forbid David from building the temple in 1 Chronicles 22:8 but never give that explicit reason in the parallel accounts (e.g., 2 Samuel 7)? What Does 2 Samuel 7:20 Mean What more can David say to You?“What more can David say to You?” (2 Samuel 7:20) reveals David’s sense of speechlessness before God’s overflowing grace. • Just moments earlier the prophet Nathan had unfolded the LORD’s covenant promise: David’s throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:11-16). • David, the gifted psalmist, suddenly finds his words inadequate; his praise can’t match God’s generosity—echoing the awe of Psalm 116:12, “How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?” • The feeling mirrors Peter’s in Luke 5:8 when, overwhelmed by the miraculous catch, he blurts, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Wonder at grace often silences proud self-expression and gives room for humble worship. For You know Your servant David roots his silence in God’s comprehensive knowledge of him: “For You know Your servant.” • This is not casual acquaintance; it is the penetrating, loving knowledge celebrated in Psalm 139:1-4, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me…You are familiar with all my ways.” • Because the LORD already sees every motive, weakness, and desire, David realizes that eloquence adds nothing. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” • God’s knowledge is personal and covenantal—He “knows” His people the way a shepherd knows sheep (John 10:14-15), motivating David to trust rather than perform. • When the Almighty pledges blessing, it rests on His perfect awareness, not on human persuasion or merit. This assurance frees David—and us—from striving for acceptance. O Lord GOD The title “O Lord GOD” (literally “Adonai Yahweh”) combines sovereignty with covenant faithfulness. • “Adonai” underscores God’s absolute rulership, matching Psalm 103:19, “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” • “Yahweh” recalls the personal name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14), the God who keeps promises to His people (Deuteronomy 7:9). • By uniting these names, David confesses that the One who knows him thoroughly is both supreme King and covenant Keeper—an unshakable foundation for faith. • The same merging appears in passages like Genesis 15:2 and Isaiah 7:7, consistently linking God’s authority with His reliable character. summary David’s brief outburst in 2 Samuel 7:20 captures holy astonishment. Overwhelmed by God’s unconditional promises, he admits his words fall short, rests in the LORD’s intimate knowledge of him, and honors the majestic yet personal “Lord GOD.” The verse invites believers to trade self-reliant speech for humble wonder, trusting the all-knowing, promise-keeping King who still delights to bless His servants today. Verse 20. - Thou, Lord. God, knowest thy servant. The Hebrew throughout has Lord Jehovah, except in vers. 22, 25, where it has "Jehovah God," the title of Deity used in Genesis 2. The repeated use Of this covenant and personal name of God is very emphatic; and the appeal to Jehovah's knowledge of his heart reminds us of similar outpourings of David's consciousness of his sincere devotion to his Maker, as for instance in Psalm 17:3.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whatוּמַה־ (ū·mah-) Conjunctive waw | Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what more יּוֹסִ֥יף (yō·w·sîp̄) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3254: To add, augment can David דָּוִ֛ד (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse say לְדַבֵּ֣ר (lə·ḏab·bêr) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue to You? אֵלֶ֑יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to For You וְאַתָּ֛ה (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you know יָדַ֥עְתָּ (yā·ḏa‘·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know Your servant, עַבְדְּךָ֖ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant O Lord אֲדֹנָ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nāy) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 136: The Lord GOD. יְהוִֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH Links 2 Samuel 7:20 NIV2 Samuel 7:20 NLT 2 Samuel 7:20 ESV 2 Samuel 7:20 NASB 2 Samuel 7:20 KJV 2 Samuel 7:20 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 7:20 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 7:20 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 7:20 French Bible 2 Samuel 7:20 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 7:20 What can David say more to you? 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