Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 7:16

"And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." — 2 Samuel 7:16 (ASV)

Established. Two different Hebrew words are translated this way in this verse. The first is the same word as that used in 2 Samuel 7:12–13, while the second is translated sure in 1 Samuel 2:35 and Isaiah 55:3, and would be better rendered here also as made sure.

Before you. The Septuagint has unnecessarily changed this to before me. The thought is that David is now made the head of the line in which the primeval promise The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head will be fulfilled.

This promise was originally given simply to the human race (Genesis 3:15); it was then restricted to the nation descended from Abraham (Genesis 22:18 and others); then it was limited to the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and now its fulfillment is promised in the family of David.