Christianity & Judaism
Son of David: The Davidic Covenant
God promised King David that one of his descendants would reign on an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7). From this promise grew the hope of a Messiah from David's line, a hope Jews and Christians share. The Gospels trace Jesus' ancestry to David and call him 'Son of David.' Judaism awaits a Davidic king who reigns in Jerusalem; Christians believe Jesus is that king, whose reign is begun and will be completed.
The promise to David
From this covenant came Israel’s enduring hope: a king from David’s house whose reign would not end. Both Judaism and Christianity look for the Messiah to come from David’s line.
Jesus, Son of David
The Gospels open by naming Jesus ‘son of David’ (Matthew 1:1) and trace his lineage to David; the crowds hailed him with the same title.
Where they agree
Both faiths expect the Messiah to descend from David and to establish God’s kingdom.
Where they differ
Judaism expects a Davidic king reigning visibly in Jerusalem now; Christianity confesses that Jesus is the Son of David whose throne is his, established in his resurrection and to be seen in fullness when he returns.
Hebrew Bible quotations: King James Version; for the Jewish rendering, compare the JPS Tanakh at sefaria.org. Jewish interpretive positions (Rashi, Maimonides) are summarized from recognized Jewish sources. Every reference on this page was checked against its primary source.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Davidic covenant?
- God's promise in 2 Samuel 7 that David's dynasty and throne would be established forever, the seed of a lasting messianic hope in both Judaism and Christianity.
- Why is Jesus called 'Son of David'?
- Because the Gospels trace his lineage to King David and present him as the promised Davidic Messiah. The title appears from the opening verse of Matthew and on the lips of the crowds.
Come and see
Jesus, his mother, and his first followers were all Jews who loved the Scriptures of Israel. The most honest way to know who he was is to read the accounts of his life. There is no pressure here.
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