1 Chronicles 17:18
New International Version
“What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant,

New Living Translation
“What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like.

English Standard Version
And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant.

Berean Standard Bible
What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant,

King James Bible
What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

New King James Version
What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.

New American Standard Bible
What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant.

NASB 1995
“What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant.

NASB 1977
“What more can David still say to Thee concerning the honor bestowed on Thy servant? For Thou knowest Thy servant.

Legacy Standard Bible
Again what more can David say to You concerning the glory bestowed on Your slave? You know Your slave.

Amplified Bible
What more can David say to You for the honor granted to Your servant? For You know Your servant.

Christian Standard Bible
What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? You know Your servant.

American Standard Version
What can David say yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

Contemporary English Version
I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me?

English Revised Version
What can David say yet more unto thee concerning the honour which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"What more can I do for you in light of the honor [you have given] to me and since you know me so well!

Good News Translation
What more can I say to you! You know me well, and yet you honor me, your servant.

International Standard Version
"What more can David say to you about how you are honoring your servant, and you surely know your servant.

Majority Standard Bible
What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant,

NET Bible
What more can David say to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition.

New Heart English Bible
What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant, LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
What can David speak more to thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

World English Bible
What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
What more does David add to You for the honor of Your servant; and You have known Your servant.

Young's Literal Translation
'What doth David add more unto Thee for the honour of Thy servant; and Thou Thy servant hast known.

Smith's Literal Translation
What more shall David add to thee to honor thy servant? for thou knewest thy servant.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
What can David add more, seeing thou hast thus glorified thy servant, and known him?

Catholic Public Domain Version
What more can David add, since you have so glorified your servant, and have known him?

New American Bible
What more can David say to you? You have known your servant.

New Revised Standard Version
And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
What more can David boast to speak before thee? For the works of thy servant are known, O LORD God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And what more will David your Servant boast to speak before you? The works of your Servant are open to you, LORD OF LORDS!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
What can David say yet more unto Thee concerning the honour which is done to Thy servant? for Thou knowest Thy servant.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
What shall David do more toward thee to glorify thee? and thou knowest thy servant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Prayer of Thanksgiving
17And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great distinction, O LORD God. 18What more can David say to You for so honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant, 19O LORD. For the sake of Your servant and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed all Your greatness.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 7:18
Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:19
And 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?

2 Samuel 7:20
What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD.

2 Samuel 7:21
For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant.

2 Samuel 7:22
How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears.

2 Samuel 7:23
And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.

2 Samuel 7:24
For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

2 Samuel 7:25
And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised,

2 Samuel 7:26
so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You.

2 Samuel 7:27
For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.

2 Samuel 7:28
And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

2 Samuel 7:29
Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

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?

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.


Treasury of Scripture

What can David speak more to you for the honor of your servant? for you know your servant.

the honour

1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

2 Samuel 7:20-24
And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant…

thou knowest

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.

John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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1 Chronicles 17
1. Nathan first approving the purpose of David, to build God a house
3. after by the word of God forbids him
11. He promises him blessings and benefits in his seed
16. David's prayer and thanksgiving














What more can David say
This phrase reflects David's humility and awe in response to God's promises. The Hebrew root for "say" is "אָמַר" (amar), which often conveys not just speaking but declaring or affirming. David acknowledges that words are insufficient to express his gratitude and wonder. Historically, this moment follows God's covenant with David, where God promises to establish David's lineage and kingdom. David's rhetorical question underscores his recognition of God's overwhelming grace and the limitations of human expression in the face of divine generosity.

to You
The direct address to God emphasizes the personal relationship between David and the Lord. In the Hebrew text, "לְךָ" (lekha) is used, indicating a direct and intimate communication with God. This reflects the covenantal relationship that is central to the narrative of the Old Testament, where God is not a distant deity but one who is actively involved in the lives of His people. David's approach to God is both reverent and personal, acknowledging God's sovereignty and his own position as a servant.

for honoring
The Hebrew word for "honoring" is "כָּבוֹד" (kavod), which can also mean glory or weightiness. This term is often used to describe the glory of God, but here it is used to describe the honor bestowed upon David by God. This reflects the biblical principle that true honor and glory come from God alone. In the historical context, David is being honored not for his own sake, but as part of God's larger redemptive plan, which ultimately points to the coming of the Messiah through David's lineage.

Your servant
David refers to himself as "Your servant," which in Hebrew is "עַבְדְּךָ" (avdekha). This term denotes humility and submission, recognizing God's authority and David's role in God's plan. The use of "servant" is significant in the biblical narrative, as it is a title of honor for those who are faithful to God, such as Moses and the prophets. David's self-identification as a servant highlights his understanding of his kingship as a divinely appointed role, meant to serve God's purposes rather than his own ambitions.

You know
The phrase "You know" is derived from the Hebrew "יָדַע" (yada), which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. This is not merely intellectual awareness but a deep, personal understanding. In the biblical context, God's knowledge of David signifies His omniscience and the personal care He has for His chosen ones. It reassures David that God is fully aware of his heart, his intentions, and his circumstances, providing comfort and assurance of God's continued guidance and support.

Your servant
The repetition of "Your servant" reinforces David's identity and role before God. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and David, where David's kingship is an act of divine service. This repetition also emphasizes the theme of servanthood as central to the biblical narrative, where true leadership is characterized by humility and obedience to God's will. David's acknowledgment of his servanthood is a model for believers, illustrating the call to serve God faithfully in whatever capacity He appoints.

(18) Samuel has the omitted "speak." (Comp. Psalm 120:3.) The word translated "for the honour," may be a corruption of that for "to speak."

Of thy servant?--The Hebrew term is in the accusative case, and should be omitted as a mistaken repetition of the same word at the end of the verse.

Verse 18. - Thy servant. The Septuagint Version has not got these words on their first occurrence. They may have found their way in wrongfully out of the next clause. They are not found in the parallel place. If they remain, they can mean nothing else than "How can David further acknowledge the honour conferred on thy servant," - a sense by no means far-fetched.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

more
יּוֹסִ֨יף (yō·w·sîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

can David
דָּוִ֛יד (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

say to You
אֵלֶ֖יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

for so honoring
לְכָב֣וֹד (lə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

Your servant?
עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (‘aḇ·de·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

For You
וְאַתָּ֖ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

know
יָדָֽעְתָּ׃ (yā·ḏā·‘ə·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

Your servant.
עַבְדְּךָ֥ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 17:18 What can David say yet more (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 17:17
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