Bible Gateway passage: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 - New International Version (2024)

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Listen to 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel Anoints David

16The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(A) for Saul, since I have rejected^(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(E) one of his sons to be king.”

²But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^(F) you what to do. You are to anoint^(G) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(H) the elders of the town trembled^(I) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(J)”

⁵Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(K) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(L) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,^(M) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(N)

⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab^(O) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹Jesse then had Shammah^(P) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^(Q) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(R)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹²So he^(S) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(T) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(U) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(V) came powerfully upon David.^(W) Samuel then went to Ramah.

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Cross references

1 Samuel 16:1 : S 1Sa 8:6; S 15:35
1 Samuel 16:1 : S 1Sa 13:14
1 Samuel 16:1 : S 1Sa 10:1
1 Samuel 16:1 : S Ru 4:17
1 Samuel 16:1 : 2Sa 5:2; 7:8; 1Ki 8:16; 1Ch 12:23; Ps 78:70; Ac 13:22
1 Samuel 16:3 : Ex 4:15
1 Samuel 16:3 : S Dt 17:15
1 Samuel 16:4 : S Ge 48:7; Lk 2:4
1 Samuel 16:4 : 1Sa 21:1
1 Samuel 16:4 : 1Ki 2:13; 2Ki 9:17
1 Samuel 16:5 : S Ex 19:10, 22
1 Samuel 16:6 : 1Sa 17:13; 1Ch 2:13
1 Samuel 16:7 : Ps 147:10
1 Samuel 16:7 : S 1Sa 2:3; 2Sa 7:20; S Ps 44:21; S 139:23; S Rev 2:23
1 Samuel 16:8 : 1Sa 17:13
1 Samuel 16:9 : 1Sa 17:13; 2Sa 13:3; 21:21
1 Samuel 16:11 : 1Sa 17:12
1 Samuel 16:11 : S Ge 37:2; 2Sa 7:8
1 Samuel 16:12 : 1Sa 9:17
1 Samuel 16:12 : S Ge 39:6
1 Samuel 16:13 : S 1Sa 2:35; S 2Sa 22:51
1 Samuel 16:13 : 1Sa 18:12
1 Samuel 16:13 : S 1Sa 11:6

FAQs

What is the message of 1 Samuel 16 1 13? ›

One of the primary messages of this story is that God is (yet again) providing for the welfare of the people, just as God had previously provided deliverance from Pharaoh; manna water, and the law in the wilderness; a land during the settlement; and guidance and leadership during the period of the judges.

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What can we learn from 1 Samuel 16 1? ›

God tells Samuel that He has selected this king from Bethlehem for Myself. Israel rejected God from ruling over them, being self-governing, under the covenant of the law, but God did not reject Israel. The new king would be a king that was for God because Israel is still His people.

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What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 16 11-13? ›

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:11-13

We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment.

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What was the event in 1 Samuel 16 6 13? ›

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 ...

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What is one truth we can learn from Samuel? ›

What is one truth we can learn from the story of Samuel hearing the Lord's voice? Correct answer: (c) Our ability to recognize the Lord's voice can grow. (See 1 Samuel 3:4–10.)

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What does the story of Samuel teach us? ›

Samuel became both a great leader to the Israelites and a prophet of God. Through this Bible story, the children learn that they are not too young to be used by God and that they must listen carefully when God speaks, because he communicates in many ways.

What does Samuel chapter 16 mean? ›

In the reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent from 1 Samuel 16, that central Bible truth was usually the statement from verse 7 that humans “look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” On one level, this was a theological lesson: God loves you for your whole being, not as you outwardly appear.

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What is the lesson from God calling Samuel? ›

For this, God reveals that He speaks to those who diligently seek Him. Second, even before he knew the Lord, Samuel showed his responsiveness by leaping forward when called. From this, God reveals that He wants you to be responsive to His Word, even when you do not understand.

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What can we learn from 1 Samuel 16 7? ›

Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). Whereas man places a high price on the externals God examines deep within that man for something more. Man judges one on the basis of one's appearance, but God critiques the heart.

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What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 16 12? ›

1Samuel 16:12 tells us Jehovah God has chosen David to be King of Israel. Verse 7 not because of Eliab's appearance he wasn't chosen to be King but because of what was in his heart. David's heart was complete to God so was chosen or anointed to be King.

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Why is Bethlehem so important? ›

According to the Gospels (Matthew 2; Luke 2), Bethlehem was the site of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Christian theology has linked this with the belief that his birth there fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Israel's future ruler coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2).