The big picture
1 Samuel 16 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful…”, and closes in verse 23 with “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Jesse, Samuel, Saul, spirit. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Samuel · King James Version · 231 Samuel 16:1-8
1–8: The LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I…
1 Samuel 16:1–8 opens with “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him…” and reaches “Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel anointing David among his brothers and David later playing before troubled Saul, with particular weight carried by LORD, sacrifice, Samuel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I…” Naming Jesse keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD : sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice…” Naming Jesse and Peaceably keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 16:1-8
King James Version1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD .
3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD : sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the \+nd Lord\+nd seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
1 Samuel 16:9-16
9–16: Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen…
1 Samuel 16:9–16 opens with “Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.” and reaches “Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel anointing David among his brothers and David later playing before troubled Saul, with particular weight carried by LORD, Samuel, Jesse.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.” Naming Jesse and Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon…” Naming Samuel and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Samuel 16:9-16
King James Version9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
1 Samuel 16:17-23
17–23: Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well…
1 Samuel 16:17–23 opens with “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.” and reaches “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Samuel anointing David among his brothers and David later playing before troubled Saul, with particular weight carried by Saul, David, Jesse.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.” Naming Provide and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Samuel 16:17-23
King James Version17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Samuel 16:1 begins with “And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Samuel 16:11 forms a natural hinge: “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said…”
The final note
1 Samuel 16:23 leaves the reader with “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Jesse, Samuel, Saul, spirit, David help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.