1 Samuel 16 13

1 Samuel 16:13 kjv

Then 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.

1 Samuel 16:13 nkjv

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:13 niv

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:13 esv

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:13 nlt

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16 verses

1 Samuel 16 13 Meaning

1 Samuel 16:13 details the divine selection and immediate empowerment of David for his future kingship. After God's rejection of Saul, Samuel is sent to Jesse's household in Bethlehem. Among Jesse's sons, David, the youngest and a shepherd, is chosen. Samuel anoints David with oil, signifying his consecration for this high office. Crucially, the Spirit of the Lord descends upon David powerfully and permanently from that moment forward, endowing him with divine wisdom and strength needed for leadership. This marks David as God's chosen king, setting him apart for God's purposes.

1 Samuel 16 13 Context

This verse marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, transitioning from a rejected human monarchy to a divinely chosen one. The preceding verses (1 Sam 16:1-12) recount God's instruction to Samuel to go to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, to anoint one of his sons as the new king. Saul had been rejected by God due to his disobedience (1 Sam 15:23). Samuel initially assesses Jesse's sons by their impressive outward appearance, but God repeatedly reminds him that He "looks not on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). All of Jesse's older, seemingly more suitable, sons are passed over. Only when David, the youngest and an unexpected shepherd boy, is brought in from the fields, does God affirm him as the chosen one. Verse 13 immediately follows this divine selection, describing the formal act of anointing and its profound spiritual consequence, thereby validating God's choice and preparing David for the immense challenges and responsibilities ahead as Israel's most significant earthly king.

Word Analysis

• Then: Connects this divine act directly to the previous events of God's selection of David and his being brought before Samuel.
• Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shemu'el): God's prophet, serving as the instrument through whom God's will is enacted. His role here is crucial in legitimizing David's future reign in God's eyes.
• took the horn of oil:
  • Horn (קֶרֶן, qeren): Unlike the small flask (pak - פך) used to anoint Saul (1 Sam 10:1), a horn symbolizes strength, permanence, abundance, and dignity, often associated with kings and divine power. It suggests an enduring, kingly anointing.
  • Oil (שֶׁמֶן, shemen): Used for consecration, setting apart, and symbolizing divine empowerment, blessing, and often joy. Kings, priests, and sometimes prophets were anointed with oil in ancient Israel, indicating their divine appointment and sacred office.
• and anointed him (וַיִּמְשַׁח, vayyimshaḥ):
  • Anointed (mashach - מָשַׁח): To smear, rub, or pour oil upon someone as a ritual act of consecration. This is the root word for Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ - Messiah in Hebrew) and Christos (Χριστός - Christ in Greek), both meaning "Anointed One." David's anointing directly prefigures the ultimate Anointed One, Jesus Christ.
• in the midst of his brothers: Signifies a public witness within David's immediate family. Though done within the household, it ensured family recognition of the prophetic act, despite David's youth and low status, highlighting divine choice over human expectation.
• And the Spirit of the Lord (רוּחַ יְהוָה, Ruach Yahweh) came mightily upon David:
  • Spirit of the Lord (Ruach Yahweh): The active presence and power of God. This indicates divine enablement, special revelation, and supernatural ability for leadership.
  • came mightily upon (וַתִּצְלַח, wattitslach): The verb tsalach means to rush, succeed, or prosper. It indicates an overpowering, effective, and strong presence of the Spirit, actively empowering David for his divinely appointed task. This was not just a passive presence but an enabling force.
• from that day forward: This phrase signifies a permanent, ongoing endowment of the Spirit on David, differentiating his experience from Saul's, where the Spirit would later depart (1 Sam 16:14). It guarantees David's continued divine assistance throughout his life and reign.
• So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah: Marks the completion of Samuel's specific mission concerning David's anointing. His departure indicates that the divine transaction is complete, and David is now divinely prepared for his future role.

1 Samuel 16 13 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Contemporary Beliefs: This account implicitly serves as a polemic against human criteria for leadership common in that era. While surrounding nations might have chosen kings based on imposing stature or military prowess (Saul's initial appeal to Israel, 1 Sam 9:2), God's selection of David from obscurity and His focus on the heart directly challenged such human-centric ideals. It underscored that true kingship and authority derived solely from divine appointment and enablement, not human preference or worldly strength.
• Bethlehem's Significance: The fact that this momentous anointing took place in Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant village, foreshadows its later biblical importance as the birthplace of King David and, centuries later, the birthplace of the Messiah, Jesus (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1-6). God often chooses humble settings for grand divine actions.
• The Shepherding Theme: David's humble origin as a shepherd deeply intertwines with his future role as a king. God explicitly "took him from the sheepfolds to be shepherd over Jacob His people, Israel His inheritance" (Ps 78:70-71). This imagery profoundly prefigures Christ as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11). The anointing enabled David to transition from tending literal sheep to spiritually guiding God's flock.

1 Samuel 16 13 Commentary

1 Samuel 16:13 is a foundational text demonstrating God's sovereign choice and method of empowering His chosen leaders. David, an unassuming shepherd boy, is chosen not for his appearance or stature but because "the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). The anointing by Samuel, utilizing a "horn of oil" (signifying enduring power and permanence, unlike a temporary flask), formally consecrates David for the royal office. The pivotal moment, however, is the descent of the Spirit of the Lord "mightily upon David from that day forward." This influx of divine power equipped David for the immense responsibilities of kingship, leadership in battle, governance, and composing psalms. This sustained Spirit-empowerment strikingly contrasts with Saul's temporary experience and subsequent loss of the Spirit (1 Sam 16:14), emphasizing the true, God-given legitimacy of David's reign. This narrative serves as a profound type of Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Anointed One" (Messiah/Christ), upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at His baptism and remained, equipping Him perfectly for His saving mission as Shepherd and King. God continues to empower those He calls for His service, providing them with the necessary spiritual gifts and abilities to fulfill His purposes.