The verb translated raise up is a way of saying that God will cause the desired situation to come into existence. Here it may be rendered “appoint” (Revised English Bible) or “choose” (New American Bible). Or in other languages translators may prefer to use a causative verb like “cause to come” or “bring to power.” The faithful priest will be Zadok (2 Sam 8.17, and see the comments on verse 31 above), whose family will keep the high priesthood from the time of Solomon until the destruction of the temple. See also 1 Kgs 2.27, 35. The participle rendered faithful comes from a root meaning “to have stability,” “to be reliable.” The same Hebrew participle is rendered sure in the second half of this verse.

The heart was regarded as the center of one’s will and desire. The expression do according to what is in my heart and in my mind may therefore be rendered “act in accordance with My wishes and My purposes” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

I will build him a sure house, that is, God will make sure that this faithful priest will have a long line of descendants to serve as high priests. As noted above, the word sure comes from a root that expresses the idea of stability and permanence. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh renders this “I will build for him an enduring house.” La Bible du Semeur says “I will build him a dynasty that will be faithful to me.” The appearance of the verb build together with the noun house causes many readers to misunderstand the meaning of this statement and take the two terms in their more literal sense. So in many cases it is better to avoid translating the verb literally and to say something like “I will guarantee many descendants for a long time” or “I will establish a permanent family.”

Go in and out: see the comments on verse 30. A translation such as “will live forever in the presence of my anointed” (Nueva Biblia Española) does not sufficiently express the dynamic sense that these priests descended from Zadok will function as royal priests in the service of the king. La Bible du Semeur says “who will officiate in the presence of the king whom I have anointed.”

My anointed, that is, the king whom God chooses (see the comment on verse 10).

For ever: Revised English Bible captures the sense in this rendering: “I shall establish his family to serve in perpetual succession before my anointed king.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .