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Key Bible Verses — Important Scriptures to Read and Understand
Important passages from Genesis to Revelation, each shown in full in your chosen Bible version, with where it comes from and what it means in its setting.
Key passages about David
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” The LORD looks at the heart
Samuel is choosing a king among Jesse's sons and is impressed by the eldest. The LORD tells him that people look at outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the…
45Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46Today, the LORD will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you and take your head from off you. I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines today to the birds of the sky and to the wild animals of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” In the name of the LORD
David answers Goliath: he comes not with sword and spear but in the name of the LORD, so that all may know that "the battle is the LORD's".
12When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men; 15but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’” A kingdom established forever
Through Nathan, God promises David a son who will build a house for God's name and a throne that will last forever. Later Scripture applies the promise to the Messiah…
3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, 4what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? What is man, that you think of him?
Looking at the night sky, David marvels that the Creator cares for human beings and has crowned them with glory. Hebrews 2:6-9 applies the psalm to Jesus.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer. Let the words of my mouth be acceptable
The closing prayer of Psalm 19 asks that both speech and inner thoughts please the LORD, "my rock and my redeemer".
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. 6Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever. The LORD is my shepherd
A psalm of David picturing the LORD as shepherd and generous host. It moves from green pastures, through the valley of the shadow of death, to dwelling in the LORD's…
The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? The LORD is my light and my salvation
The opening of a psalm that moves from confidence to urgent prayer and ends, "Wait for the LORD" (27:14).
I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to you
David describes the weight of hiding his sin and the relief of confessing it to God and being forgiven.
Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Taste and see that the LORD is good
From a psalm headed with David's escape at Gath. He invites others to experience God's goodness for themselves; 1 Peter 2:3 echoes it.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Near to the broken-hearted
The LORD is near those whose hearts are broken. The psalm admits that "many are the afflictions of the righteous" (34:19) and promises God's deliverance in them, not freedom from…
4Also delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will do this: Delight yourself in the LORD
In a wisdom psalm about not envying the wicked, David urges trust and patience. Delighting in the LORD shapes what a person desires.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart
David's prayer of confession, headed with Nathan's visit after his sin with Bathsheba. He asks God not only to forgive him but to renew him from within.
Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. Cast your burden on the LORD
From a psalm of David about betrayal by a close friend. He urges handing burdens to the LORD, who sustains the righteous; 1 Peter 5:7 echoes it.
1My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. 2He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken. My soul rests in God alone
David waits quietly for God, his rock and salvation, while enemies attack him.
2Praise the LORD, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, 3who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, 5who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Forget not all his benefits
David calls himself to praise God for forgiveness, healing, redemption, steadfast love and renewal.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As far as the east is from the west
Part of Psalm 103's praise of God's compassion: he removes his people's transgressions completely and does not deal with them as their sins deserve.
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! How good it is to live together in unity
A short song of ascents by David celebrating the goodness of unity among God's people.
13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. Fearfully and wonderfully made
David marvels that God knows him completely and formed him in the womb. The psalm ends by asking God to search his heart (139:23-24).
23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. 24See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Search me, God, and know my heart
The closing prayer of Psalm 139: David invites God, who already knows him completely, to test him and lead him in the everlasting way.
The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. The LORD is near to all who call on him
From David's psalm of praise: the LORD is near to all who call on him in truth.