Davidic

Davidic is an adjective relating to David, the biblical king of Israel, or to things connected with him or his descendants. In biblical and religious literature, the term most often designates the House of David, the hereditary dynasty of rulers in Jerusalem from David’s line, traditionally spanning the united and later southern kingdom of Judah. The dynasty is commonly dated to about the 10th century BCE and is associated with the fate of the Davidic throne through periods of exile and restoration narratives.

A central concept tied to Davidic is the Davidic Covenant, described in 2 Samuel 7, in which God promises to establish David’s throne forever, contingent on fidelity to the covenant. This covenant underpins later messianic expectations in both Judaism and Christianity: a future Davidic king would rule with justice, restore the kingdom, and bring peace.

In Christian theology, Jesus is presented as a Davidic descendant and, for many traditions, the promised Messiah who fulfills the Davidic covenant. In Judaism, the expectation of a future Davidic king remains part of eschatological hope, though interpretations of how that hope will be realized differ.

Beyond lineage and covenant, Davidic can refer to authorship or attribution of certain biblical Psalms to David, or to literature and artifacts associated with Davidic royal culture. In scholarly usage, the term serves as a neutral descriptor for subjects connected to David and his dynasty.