And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

1 SAMUEL 17:55KJV
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1 Samuel 17:55 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 17:55 mean?

1 Samuel 17:55 shows King Saul watching David go out to face Goliath and asking Abner, his army commander, about David’s family background. Abner admits he does not know who David’s father is.

Saul is speaking to Abner, the captain of his army, as David prepares to fight the Philistine champion. The verse highlights Saul’s curiosity about David’s identity, even though David had already been in Saul’s service as a musician and armor-bearer. This moment sets up the importance of David’s family and background for what comes next in the story.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 17:55

  • "son" (בֵּן, ben): Saul specifically asks about David’s father, not just David himself. This shows the importance of family lineage and social standing in ancient Israel.
  • "youth" (נַעַר, naʿar): The word used for David means a young man or youth, emphasizing David’s age and inexperience compared to the seasoned warriors around him.
  • "host" (צָבָא, tsābā’): Abner is called the captain of the "host," meaning the army. This underlines Abner’s high rank and the seriousness of Saul’s inquiry.

Why 1 Samuel 17:55 matters

  • This verse clears up a common confusion about whether Saul already knew David; it shows that Saul did not recognize David’s family background, even if he knew David personally.
  • The focus on David’s lineage prepares the reader for the later rewards Saul promises, which include exemption for David’s family and marriage into the royal family.
  • The verse highlights the dramatic tension: the king and his top commander are unsure about the identity of the young man about to face Israel’s greatest threat.

Where else these words appear

“cannot” Hebrew H518 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
  • Numbers 14:35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
  • 2 Kings 9:35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.

“Abner” Hebrew H74 · used in 53 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
  • 2 Samuel 2:24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
  • 2 Samuel 3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

“against” Hebrew H7125 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  • Judges 6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
  • 1 Kings 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.