1 Samuel

1 Samuel 16:6–13

6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9Next Jesse presented Shammah,a but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

11And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.”

“Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Footnotes

  • a 16:9 Shammah is a variant of Shimeah, Shimea, and Shimei; see 2 Samuel 13:3|2SA 13:3, 2 Samuel 21:21, and 1 Chronicles 2:13.

Read all of 1 Samuel 16

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 16:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When they arrivedבְּבוֹאָ֔םbə·ḇō·w·’āmPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
Samuel sawוַיַּ֖רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
Eliabאֱלִיאָ֑ב’ĕ·lî·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH446 Eliab
and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Surelyאַ֛ךְ’aḵAdverbH389 surely
here beforeנֶ֥גֶדne·ḡeḏPrepositionH5048 what is conspicuous or in front
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
anointedמְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃mə·šî·ḥōwAdjective - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4899 anointed

1 Samuel 16:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the LORDיְהוָ֜הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
Do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
considerתַּבֵּ֧טtab·bêṭVerb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularH5027 look
his appearanceמַרְאֵ֛הוּmar·’ê·hūNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4758 sight, appearance, vision
or heightגְּבֹ֥הַּgə·ḇō·ahNoun - masculine singular constructH1364 high, exalted
forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I have rejected himמְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּmə·’as·tî·hūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singularH3988 reject
notלֹ֗אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
asאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
manהָאָדָ֔םhā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
doesיִרְאֶה֙yir·’ehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
Forכִּ֤יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
manהָֽאָדָם֙hā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
seesיִרְאֶ֣הyir·’ehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
the outward appearanceלַעֵינַ֔יִםla·‘ê·na·yimPreposition-l, Article; Noun - cdH5869 eye
but the LORDוַיהוָ֖הYah·wehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
seesיִרְאֶ֥הyir·’ehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
the heartלַלֵּבָֽב׃lal·lê·ḇāḇPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart

1 Samuel 16:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
Abinadabאֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב’ă·ḇî·nā·ḏāḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH41 Abinadab
and presented himוַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּway·ya·‘ă·ḇi·rê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
toלִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
who saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
The LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
chosenבָחַ֥רḇā·ḥarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH977 choose
thisבָּזֶ֖הbā·zehPreposition-b; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
one eitherגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea

1 Samuel 16:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Next Jesseיִשַׁ֖יyi·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
presentedוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רway·ya·‘ă·ḇêrConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
Shammahשַׁמָּ֑הšam·māhNoun - proper - masculine singularH8048 Shammah
but Samuel saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
The LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
chosenבָחַ֥רḇā·ḥarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH977 choose
thisבָּזֶ֖הbā·zehPreposition-b; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
one eitherגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea

1 Samuel 16:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thus Jesseיִשַׁ֛יyi·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
made sevenשִׁבְעַ֥תšiḇ·‘aṯNumber - masculine singular constructH7651 seven
of his sonsבָּנָ֖יוbā·nāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1121 son
passוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רway·ya·‘ă·ḇêrConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
but Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙šə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
toldוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
himיִשַׁ֔יyi·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
The LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
chosenבָחַ֥רḇā·ḥarVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH977 choose
any of theseבָּאֵֽלֶּה׃bā·’êl·lehPreposition-b; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these

1 Samuel 16:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֣לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
askedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
himיִשַׁי֮yi·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
Are these allהֲתַ֣מּוּhă·ṯam·mūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH8552 be complete, finished
the sons you haveהַנְּעָרִים֒han·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
There is stillע֚וֹד‘ō·wḏAdverbH5750 a going round, continuance
the youngestהַקָּטָ֔ןhaq·qā·ṭānArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
Jesse repliedוַיֹּ֗אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
but he isוְהִנֵּ֥הwə·hin·nêhConjunctive waw; InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
tendingרֹעֶ֖הrō·‘ehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7462 pasture, tend, graze
the sheepבַּצֹּ֑אןbaṣ·ṣōnPreposition-b, Article; Noun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
Send forשִׁלְחָ֣הšil·ḥāhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH7971 send
himוְקָחֶ֔נּוּwə·qā·ḥen·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person masculine singularH3947 take
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Forכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
we will notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
sit downנָסֹ֖בnā·sōḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralH5437 turn about, go around, surround
untilעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
he arrivesבֹּא֥וֹbō·’ōwVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go

1 Samuel 16:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Jesse sent forוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חway·yiš·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7971 send
and brought him inוַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙way·ḇî·’ê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
Heוְה֣וּאwə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
ruddyאַדְמוֹנִ֔י’aḏ·mō·w·nîAdjective - masculine singularH132 red, ruddy
with beautifulיְפֵ֥הyə·p̄êhAdjective - masculine singular constructH3303 fair, beautiful
eyesעֵינַ֖יִם‘ê·na·yimNoun - cdH5869 eye
and a handsomeוְט֣וֹבwə·ṭō·wḇConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singular constructH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
appearanceרֹ֑אִי פrō·ʾī p̄Noun - masculine singularH7210 looking, seeing, sight
And the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Riseק֥וּםqūmVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
anoint himמְשָׁחֵ֖הוּmə·šā·ḥê·hūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person masculine singularH4886 smear, anoint
forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
heהֽוּא׃hūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
is the oneזֶ֥הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that

1 Samuel 16:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֜לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
tookוַיִּקַּ֨חway·yiq·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3947 take
the hornקֶ֣רֶןqe·renNoun - feminine singular constructH7161 horn
of oilהַשֶּׁ֗מֶןhaš·še·menArticle; Noun - masculine singularH8081 fat, oil
and anointedוַיִּמְשַׁ֣חway·yim·šaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4886 smear, anoint
himאֹתוֹ֮’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
in the presenceבְּקֶ֣רֶבbə·qe·reḇPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH7130 inward part, midst
of his brothersאֶחָיו֒’e·ḥāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
and the Spiritרֽוּחַ־rū·aḥ-Noun - common singular constructH7307 breath, wind, spirit
of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
rushedוַתִּצְלַ֤חwat·tiṣ·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH6743 rush
uponאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֔דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
from thatהַה֖וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
dayמֵהַיּ֥וֹםmê·hay·yō·wmPreposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
forwardוָמָ֑עְלָהwā·mā·‘ə·lāhConjunctive waw; Adverb; third person feminine singularH4605 higher part
Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
set outוַיָּ֣קָםway·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
and wentוַיֵּ֖לֶךְway·yê·leḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
to Ramahהָרָמָֽתָה׃סhā·rā·mā·ṯāhArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH7414 the Height, Rama

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 16:7 John 7:24 · Jeremiah 17:10 · Luke 16:15 · Isaiah 55:8–9 · 1 Peter 3:4 · Proverbs 16:2 · Proverbs 31:30 · Psalm 147:10–11 · 1 Chronicles 28:9 · 1 Kings 8:39 · Acts 1:24 · Hebrews 4:13

1 Samuel 16:8 1 Samuel 17:13

1 Samuel 16:9 1 Samuel 17:13

1 Samuel 16:11 Psalm 78:70–71 · 2 Samuel 7:8 · 1 Chronicles 17:7 · 2 Samuel 13:3 · 1 Samuel 17:28 · 1 Samuel 17:12–15

1 Samuel 16:12 Lamentations 4:7 · Song of Solomon 5:10 · 1 Samuel 17:42 · 1 Samuel 9:17 · Psalm 89:19–20

1 Samuel 16:13 1 Samuel 10:6 · Hebrews 1:9 · John 3:34 · 1 Samuel 10:1 · Judges 11:29 · Numbers 27:18 · 1 Samuel 10:9–10 · Isaiah 11:1–3 · Judges 3:10 · Judges 14:6 · 1 Samuel 16:18 · 2 Kings 9:6

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.