2 Samuel 7:11
ESV
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
NIV
and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " ‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:
NASB
even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
CSB
ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. "‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you.
NLT
starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. '‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you — a dynasty of kings!
KJV
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
NKJV
since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.
What does 2 Samuel 7:11 mean?
When David sat in his house of cedar and thought about the ark of the covenant resting in a tent, he felt uncomfortable. He wanted to build God a house: a permanent temple. God tells him no. But the Lord will build David a "house": an eternal dynasty. He will make David's name great. And he will give Israel peace from the violent enemies that have plagued them since the time of the judges (2 Samuel 7:1–10). God will give His people rest, a lasting peace.The people experience their first taste of rest at this moment. David has defeated Israel's enemies by God's power. Later, Solomon will lead Israel to great prosperity while God protects them from conflict (1 Chronicles 22:9). But Solomon will commit such egregious idolatry that God will invite the nations to war against Israel again (1 Kings 11). Complete rest is still in the future.
The author of Hebrews talks more about this "rest." The chapter compares the rest God wants for His people to the seventh day when He rested from the work of creation. God told the Israelites they could have rest in the Promised Land. When they rebelled against Him and Moses, God took away that rest and let them wander for forty years (Psalm 95:7–11). Then, they could have had rest by following Joshua to completely defeat the Canaanites in the Promised Land. But they didn't have faith in God to see it through. Even so, "…there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9). "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
This true rest doesn't come from defeating earthly enemies or accumulating enough wealth to never need to work again. It comes through Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, who is our king and our high priest. This future rest is for the "people of God": that includes the Israelites of David's time and the Christians today. Today, believers can "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). But we wait for everlasting rest just as David did (Hebrews 11:1, 39–40).
