Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

1 SAMUEL 16:10KJV
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1 Samuel 16:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 16:10 mean?

1 Samuel 16:10 shows that Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse that the LORD had not chosen any of them. This verse makes it clear that God’s choice did not fall on any of the sons Jesse had presented so far.

In this scene, the prophet Samuel is visiting Jesse’s family in Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel, following God’s instructions. Jesse brings his sons one by one before Samuel, but each time, Samuel receives confirmation from the LORD that this is not the chosen one. The verse highlights that God’s selection is different from human expectations, setting the stage for the surprising choice of David, Jesse’s youngest son.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 16:10

  • "Seven" (שִׁבְעָה, shiv'ah): The number seven often symbolizes completeness in Hebrew thought, so the fact that all seven sons were rejected emphasizes the unexpectedness of God’s choice.
  • "Pass" (עָבַר, avar): This word means to pass by or pass before, describing a formal presentation, as if each son is being inspected or considered.
  • "Chosen" (בָּחַר, bachar): This verb means to select or choose, and here it stresses that God’s decision is active and deliberate, not random or based on outward appearances.

Why 1 Samuel 16:10 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that God’s choices are based on human standards or appearances; even though Jesse’s seven sons seemed like obvious candidates, none were chosen.
  • The verse sets up the dramatic tension in the story, making David’s eventual selection more surprising and significant.
  • It connects to the larger theme in 1 Samuel 16 that God looks at the heart, not at outward qualities, which is made explicit in the earlier verses of this chapter.

Where else these words appear

“Jesse” Hebrew H3448 · used in 39 verses

  • Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
  • 1 Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
  • 2 Samuel 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

“Samuel” Hebrew H8050 · used in 120 verses

  • Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
  • 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
  • 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.