1 Samuel 17:12
1 Samuel 17:12 in Multiple Translations
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years.
¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken in years among men.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah named Jesse, who had eight sons; and he was an old man in Saul's day, and far on in years.
David was the son of a man named Jesse. He was an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. At the time Saul was king, Jesse was very old.
Nowe this Dauid was the sonne of an Ephrathite of Beth-lehem Iudah, named Ishai, which had eight sonnes: and this man was taken for an olde man in the daies of Saul.
And David [is] son of this Ephrathite of Beth-Lehem-Judah, whose name [is] Jesse, and he hath eight sons, and the man in the days of Saul hath become aged among men;
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons. The man was an elderly old man in the days of Saul.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Juda before mentioned, whose name was Isai, who had eight sons, and was an old man in the days of Saul, and of great age among men.
David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the clan of Ephrath. He lived in Bethlehem, in the area where the descendants of Judah lived. Jesse had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse had already become a very old man [DOU].
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 17:12
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1 Samuel 17:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 17:12
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 17:12
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 17:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 17:12
Context — David Accepts the Challenge
12Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.
13The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah. 14And David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 16:10–11 | Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” |
| 2 | Genesis 35:19 | So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 16:18 | One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.” |
| 4 | Ruth 4:22 | Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 17:58 | “Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied. |
| 6 | 1 Chronicles 2:13–16 | Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third, Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, Ozem sixth, and David seventh. Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. |
| 7 | Matthew 1:6 | and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife, |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 16:1 | Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” |
| 9 | Luke 3:31–32 | the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, |
| 10 | Matthew 2:6 | ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’ ” |
1 Samuel 17:12 Summary
This verse tells us about David's family, including his father Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah. Jesse was an old man with eight sons, and David was the youngest. This information helps us understand David's background before he faces the giant Goliath, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:12. Just like how God chose David, who was young and unexpected, God can use anyone, regardless of age or experience, to do great things, as seen in Jeremiah 1:6-7 and 1 Timothy 4:12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jesse in the Bible?
Jesse was the father of David, a significant figure in the Bible, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 17:12, and is also referenced in Isaiah 11:1 and Matthew 1:5-6 as part of Jesus' genealogy.
What does it mean that Jesse was an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah?
This description indicates Jesse's ancestral heritage and geographical location, highlighting his connection to the tribe of Judah, as seen in Ruth 4:18-22 and 1 Samuel 16:1, which also mentions the city of Bethlehem.
Why is it important that Jesse had eight sons?
The number of sons Jesse had, including David as the youngest, is mentioned to provide context for David's family background and to contrast with his brothers who followed Saul into battle, as noted in 1 Samuel 17:13-14.
What does it mean that Jesse was old and well along in years?
This phrase suggests that Jesse was an elderly man at this point in the story, similar to Abraham in Genesis 24:1, who was also advanced in age, and emphasizes the significance of David's emergence as a key figure despite his youth.
Reflection Questions
- How does knowing David's family background influence my understanding of his encounter with Goliath?
- What does Jesse's age and experience teach me about God's timing and plans for my life?
- In what ways can I, like David, trust in God's sovereignty despite feeling insignificant or young?
- How can I apply the lesson of Jesse's age and David's youth to my own life, recognizing that God often uses unexpected people to accomplish great things?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 17:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 17:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 17:12
Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 17:12
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:12
Sermons on 1 Samuel 17:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Genesis) Genesis 48:7-13 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on a passage from the Bible, specifically Genesis 48. The passage describes the interaction between Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph's sons, Ephraim a |
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True Preparation for Christmas (Part 2) by Erlo Stegen | Erlo Stegen emphasizes the profound significance of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant town that became the birthplace of the eternal Ruler. He explains that unde |
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Overcoming the Voices of Fear by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the story of David and his experience in a cave with his followers. The speaker emphasizes the power of praise and worship in magnifying the |
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"The Lord Is With Him" (1 Samuel 16:18) by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of David's life as a man after God's own heart, highlighting six key attributes: his skill in worship, courage, warrior spirit, prudenc |
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Christ in You by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of man's relationship with God. He explains that man is only truly man when he has God in him, and losing God means losing ev |
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(Genesis) - Part 27 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Joseph from the Bible. He highlights Joseph's attitude of not dwelling on the evil done to him by his brothers and Potiphar's wi |
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(1986 Prairie Series) 8 - Biggest Thing God Ever Said by Major Ian Thomas | In this sermon, the preacher discusses how God chooses individuals based on their hearts, rather than their outward appearance or qualifications. The preacher uses the example of D |






