Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

What can David say more - How can I express my endless obligation to thee?

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And what can David say more unto thee,.... In a way of self-abasement, or in thankfulness for such wonderful favours, or in prayer for more and other mercies; he wants words, as if he should say, to express his sense of his own nothingness and unworthiness, and to praise the Lord for all his benefits; and so large are the grants and promises made, that there is no room for him to ask for more:

for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant; what a sense he has of his own meanness and vileness, what gratitude his heart is filled with, and what his wants and necessities are, which God only can supply, and does abundantly, even more than he is able to ask or think. The Targum is,"and thou hast performed the petition of thy servant, O Lord God.'

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

what can David say more unto thee? — that is, my obligations are greater than I can express.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

David say — Either in a way of gratitude and praise, words cannot express my obligations to thee, nor my sense of these obligations: Or in a way of prayer. What can I ask of thee more than thou hast freely done? Thou knowest - Thou knowest my deep sense of thy favours, and my obligations to thee. And my condition and necessities, what I do or may need hereafter; and as thou knowest this, so I doubt not thou wilt supply me.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

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

Ver. 20. And what can David say more unto thee?] More I would say, but I want words, and am at a loss. But thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant - viz., that I could wish I had the "tongue of men and angels"; and that I could gladly grant thee better service than I am able to do thee.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

What can David say more unto thee? either, first, In way of gratitude and praise to thee; words cannot express my obligations to thee, nor my sense of these obligations. Or rather, secondly, In way of prayer, as appears by the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 17:18. What can I ask or desire of thee more than thou hast freely done?

Thou knowest thy servant; thou knowest, either, first, my deep sense of thy favours, and my obligations to thee; or rather, secondly, my condition and necessities, what I do or may need hereafter; and as thou knowest this, so I doubt not thou wilt be ready to supply me accordingly. Compare Matthew 6:8,32.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Unto thee. To express his sentiments of gratitude. (Menochius) --- What more can he desire?

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

What can David say more unto thee - i:e., my obligations are infinitely greater than I can express; and then, "thou, Lord, knowest thy servant," must refer to the deep, unspeakable feelings of his ravished heart. But by reference to the parallel passage (1 Chronicles 17:17), this is spoken rather as a prayer, intimating that David could neither ask nor desire anything greater than what had been now conferred; and therefore he would leave all his wants to be supplied by his gracious 'Lord, who knew his servant.'

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

knowest

Genesis 18:19; 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 139:1; John 2:25; 21:17; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 2:23