1 Samuel 16:6-13

6 When they entered, he looked at ¹Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, ²but the LORD looks at the heart."

8 Then Jesse called ³Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

9 Next Jesse made ⁴Shammah pass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "⁵There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

David Anointed

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with ⁶beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, "⁷Arise, anoint him; for this is he."

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and ⁸anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and ⁹the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 16

In this chapter Samuel is ordered to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem, 1Sa 16:1-5 all whose sons were made to pass before him, excepting David, 1Sa 16:6-10 who being then with his father's sheep, was sent for and was anointed, 1Sa 16:11-13, after which the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he became melancholy, and it was advised to seek out a musician for him, and David was mentioned to him as a proper person, 1Sa 16:14-18 upon which he was sent for, and acted as a musician to Saul, and also became his armourbearer, which was the first rise of him, 1Sa 16:19-23.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 17:13
• 2. 1 Samuel 2:3; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Luke 16:15
• 3. 1 Samuel 17:13
• 4. 1 Samuel 17:13
• 5. 1 Samuel 17:12; 2 Samuel 13:3
• 6. Genesis 39:6; Exodus 2:2; Acts 7:20
• 7. 1 Samuel 9:17
• 8. 1 Samuel 10:1
• 9. Numbers 27:18; 1 Sam 10:6, 9, 10

Footnotes

• [a]. So with Gr; Heb He does "not" see "what man sees"
• [b]. In 2 Sam 13:3, "Shimeah;" in 1 Chr 2:13, "Shimea"
• [c]. Lit "take"