2 Samuel 7:14
What is written? (ESV)
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
What does it say?
I [God] will be a father to him [Solomon], and he shall be my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod and stripes of men,
What is its immediate context?
A key passage of the Old Testament when God, through the prophet Nathan, makes His covenant with David. David wants to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, but God tells him not to – that his son will do it. It’s an inescapable example of prophetic dualism, as a portion is interpreted and applied to Jesus by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:3-5).
How 2 Samuel 7:14 is applied across Bible answers
Top 5: Dual fulfillment in prophecy?
God tells David through the prophet Nathan that He will be a father to his heir and considered His son.
About a thousand years later, the first sentence of this verse is applied to Jesus by the Hebrews writer. When speaking about Jesus, he writes, "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you?' Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?'" (Hebrews 1:5) Interestingly, the very next sentence could never be applied to Jesus since he was without sin.
