David is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name David (H1732), meaning 'beloved' or 'beloved one.' He was Israel's greatest king — shepherd, warrior, psalmist, and recipient of the covenant promise of an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:12–16). David appears over 50 times in the New Testament, primarily as the ancestor of the Messiah and the author of Psalms.
David is the paradigmatic king of Israel and the prototype of the Messiah. God made a covenant with him that his throne would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:3–4). Jesus is repeatedly called 'Son of David' — the legitimate heir to this covenant promise (Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 21:9). Peter declares at Pentecost that David 'was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne' — and that Jesus is that fulfillment (Acts 2:30–31). David's life of failures and repentance also make him a model of grace: God's anointed can fall and be restored.