1 Samuel 16 1

1 Samuel 16:1 kjv

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 will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

1 Samuel 16:1 nkjv

Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."

1 Samuel 16:1 niv

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

1 Samuel 16:1 esv

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."

1 Samuel 16:1 nlt

Now the LORD said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king."

1 Samuel 16 verses

1 Samuel 16 1 Meaning

1 Samuel 16:1 marks a pivotal transition in the early history of Israelite kingship, conveying God's definitive instruction to Samuel to cease mourning for Saul. The verse reveals God's unchangeable rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience, and His sovereign initiative to establish a new dynasty. Samuel is commanded to fill his anointing horn with oil and proceed to Bethlehem to Jesse's house, where God has already selected one of his sons to be the next king of Israel, an act that signifies God's direct involvement in His people's leadership.

1 Samuel 16 1 Context

First Samuel chapter 16 begins a new phase in Israel's history following the turbulent reign and rejection of King Saul. The preceding chapters (1 Sam 13-15) detail Saul's escalating disobedience, culminating in his blatant defiance of God's direct command regarding the Amalekites. As a result, God explicitly tells Samuel that He has rejected Saul from being king over Israel. Samuel, who had a deep personal connection and affection for Saul, mourned profusely over Saul's failure and God's decision. This verse, therefore, serves as God's imperative to Samuel to stop grieving and move forward with His divine plan to appoint a new king, one who would be "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam 13:14). It transitions the narrative from Saul's downfall to David's emergence, marking a shift from human-preferred leadership to God's sovereignly chosen leadership.

1 Samuel 16 1 Word analysis

• The Lord (YHWH - יהוה): Refers to the covenant God of Israel. Emphasizes that this is a divine, authoritative command from the ultimate Sovereign, not merely Samuel's own idea. It signifies the Lord's continued active governance over Israel.

• said (`amar - אָמַר): Indicates a direct, verbal command. There is no ambiguity or interpretation needed; it is God speaking His will clearly.

• to Samuel (Sh'mu'el - שְׁמוּאֵל): Samuel, the prophet, priest, and judge, is the direct recipient of God's message. He is God's designated messenger for the transfer of kingship.

• How long (adanah - עַד־אָנָה): A rhetorical question expressing God's impatience with Samuel's prolonged grief. It's a gentle rebuke, signaling that the time for mourning is over and action is required.

• will you mourn (`abel - אָבֵל): To grieve deeply, lament, or be sorrowful. Samuel's grief was significant, reflecting his personal investment in Saul's reign and perhaps his disappointment or even fear concerning the implications of Saul's rejection.

• for Saul (Sha'ul - שָׁאוּל): Refers to the first king of Israel, who had failed God's commands. Samuel's mourning highlights the depth of the personal bond and the prophet's humanity.

• since (ki - כִּי): Introduces the reason or justification for God's command to stop mourning. It states a completed and decisive act.

• I have rejected (ma'as - מָאַסְתִּי): From the root meaning "to despise," "spurn," or "reject definitively." This is a strong, permanent rejection by God, emphasizing the finality of Saul's removal from kingship. It highlights God's justice against disobedience.

• him as king (l'melekh - לְמֶלֶךְ): His status and office are removed by divine decree.

• over Israel (`al-Yisra'el - עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל): Emphasizes that Saul's rejection impacts the entire nation and its future.

• Fill (male' - מְלָא): An imperative command, signifying immediate and complete action.

• your horn with oil (qaren shimkhekha - קֶרֶן שַׁמְנֶךָ):

  • Horn (qeren - קֶרֶן): Unlike the small, fragile flask (pak) used for Saul's initial anointing (1 Sam 10:1), a horn signified a more permanent, durable, and royal anointing, suggesting a lasting dynasty. Horns were symbolic of strength and power.
  • Oil (shemen - שֶׁמֶן): The anointing oil symbolized consecration, setting apart for sacred service, and the impartation of God's Spirit for a divine appointment.

• and be on your way (w'lekh - וָלֵךְ): A second imperative, demanding action and travel. Samuel is to go to the location God specifies.

• I am sending (shaleakh `anokhi - שֹׁלֵחַ אֹתְךָ): God's direct commissioning. Samuel is acting under divine authority and mission, not on his own initiative.

• you to Jesse (Yishay - יִשַׁי): Jesse, "wealthy" or "gift," was a descendant of Judah through Perez and ultimately Boaz and Ruth. He was not prominent until this divine revelation.

• of Bethlehem (Beyt-lechem - בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי): "House of Bread." A seemingly insignificant town, yet historically important as the birthplace of Judah, later David, and prophetically, the Messiah (Mic 5:2). God often chooses the obscure to demonstrate His power and sovereignty.

• for I have chosen (ra'ah li - כִּי־רָאִיתִי לִי): God uses a reflexive form, "I have seen for Myself," signifying a careful, deliberate, and sovereign selection based on His divine foreknowledge and purpose. This is God's initiative alone.

• one of his sons (b'benaio - בְּבָנָיו): The choice is limited to Jesse's sons, but God reserves the specific identity, requiring Samuel to embark on the journey of discovery, teaching him to look beyond human appearance (as clarified in 1 Sam 16:7).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The Lord said to Samuel, 'How long will you mourn for Saul...'": Highlights the transition from grief to God-ordained action. It shows God's sovereign command overriding human emotion and reluctance.
  • "'...since I have rejected him as king over Israel?'": Establishes the divine basis for the immediate action required. God's rejection of Saul is final and foundational to the new commission. It underscores that God's plan cannot be hindered by human failures.
  • "'Fill your horn with oil and be on your way;'": A concise and direct command for preparedness and immediate execution. The specific imagery of the "horn of oil" points to a lasting, divinely ordained anointing, contrasting Saul's anointing by a mere vial (1 Sam 10:1).
  • "'I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem.'": Emphasizes God's active dispatch of Samuel and His choice of an ordinary, overlooked place and family. This reflects God's pattern of choosing the humble or unlikely for His significant plans.
  • "'I have chosen one of his sons to be king.'": Reveals God's proactive sovereignty in selecting leadership. The choice is already made in heaven; Samuel's role is to confirm and implement it on earth. It sets the stage for God's emphasis on inner character rather than outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7).

1 Samuel 16 1 Bonus section

The divine impatience conveyed in "How long will you mourn?" serves as a crucial point for personal and national repentance and redirection. God does not allow His grand plan for Israel to be permanently sidetracked by human sin or the accompanying grief. It signals God's relentless commitment to His covenant purposes. The mention of Bethlehem links David's call directly to the later prophetic announcements of the Messiah's birthplace (Mic 5:2), solidifying the profound spiritual lineage that begins to unfold here. This verse, though brief, thus encapsulates divine sovereignty, the consequences of disobedience, God's enduring grace, and prophetic foreshadowing all in one breath.

1 Samuel 16 1 Commentary

1 Samuel 16:1 initiates the narrative of Israel's greatest king, David, after the disheartening failure of Saul. This verse beautifully illustrates several profound theological truths: God's sovereignty, His justice, His mercy, and His proactive nature in steering history according to His divine purpose. God's direct question, "How long will you mourn for Saul?" isn't a lack of empathy but an urgent call to Samuel to release attachment to what God has already declared finished and to embrace the new divine initiative. Samuel's grief, while understandable given his bond with Saul and investment in Israel's first king, had to yield to God's forward movement.

God's statement, "I have rejected him as king," underscores the irrevocability of divine judgment against disobedience, yet it's immediately followed by an action of grace – providing a new king. This shows that God's purposes do not depend on human obedience; even through failure, God advances His plan. The command to take a "horn with oil" for anointing speaks volumes. A horn, being more durable than a flask, symbolically represents a lasting, eternal kingship—a premonition of the enduring Davidic dynasty and ultimately, the eternal reign of Jesus Christ. The oil itself signifies consecration and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The choice of Jesse of Bethlehem is significant. Bethlehem was a small, unassuming town, often overlooked. This choice prefigures God's consistent method of working through the seemingly humble and insignificant to accomplish His grand purposes, preparing the way for David, a shepherd boy, and much later, Jesus, the Son of David, born in that very same town. God's statement "I have chosen one of his sons" highlights divine pre-selection; the task for Samuel is not to search for a worthy candidate but to discern the one God has already appointed, which would later be revealed to depend not on outward appearance but on the heart (1 Sam 16:7).

This verse offers practical lessons: believers should not dwell on past failures or missed opportunities (even those of others) when God calls them to move forward in a new direction. God’s plan continues regardless of setbacks, and He actively prepares new leaders for new seasons. It is a reminder that while mourning has its place, it must not hinder obedience to God's next directive.