1 Kings 8:17 (DBY)

Passage

And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.

Nearby Context

1 Kings 8:15 And he said: Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,

1 Kings 8:16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; but I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

1 Kings 8:17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house unto the name of Jehovah the God of Israel.

1 Kings 8:18 But Jehovah said to David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart;

1 Kings 8:19 nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "heart", "david", "father", "build", "house", "name", "jehovah", and "israel". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "heart" and "david", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Since the day that I brought forth..." into verse 18's "But Jehovah said to David my father...", so "heart" and "david" belong inside that flow. In 1 Kings context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "heart" and "david" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.