1 Samuel 16:5 kjv
And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:5 nkjv
And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:5 niv
Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:5 esv
And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:5 nlt
"Yes," Samuel replied. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.
1 Samuel 16 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:10-11 | "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow... for on the third day the LORD will come down." | Consecration before divine encounter. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | "For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy..." | God's demand for holiness from His people. |
| Josh 3:5 | "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." | Preparation for divine action/miracles. |
| 1 Chr 15:12 | "Consecrate yourselves... so that you may bring up the ark..." | Consecration for holy service. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands and a pure heart." | Moral and spiritual purity for worship. |
| Isa 1:16 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean..." | Call to inward purity. |
| 1 Cor 1:2 | "...to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus..." | Believers are set apart in Christ. |
| Heb 12:14 | "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." | Pursuit of holiness is essential. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "...but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." | Imitation of God's holiness. |
| Rom 12:1 | "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | Christian's life as a spiritual sacrifice. |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | Sanctification by God's Word. |
| Eph 5:26-27 | "...that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word." | Christ's work in sanctifying the Church. |
| 2 Chr 29:5 | "...consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the LORD..." | Restoration of worship through consecration. |
| Ezek 44:23 | "They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common." | Role of priests in distinguishing holiness. |
| Lev 20:7-8 | "You shall therefore consecrate yourselves and be holy... For I am the LORD who sanctifies you." | Divine command and source of sanctification. |
| Hag 2:12-13 | "If someone carries holy meat... does it make anything else holy?" | The principle that holiness is not transferable but defilement is. |
| 2 Tim 2:21 | "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart..." | Self-purification for God's use. |
| Matt 5:23-24 | "So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you..." | Prioritizing reconciliation before worship. |
| Lev 10:3 | "Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified." | God demands reverence from those who approach Him. |
| Deut 23:14 | "For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you; therefore your camp must be holy..." | Purity required in God's presence for His blessing. |
| Phil 2:14-15 | "Do all things without grumbling or questioning... that you may be blameless and innocent..." | Living a sanctified life for witness. |
| 1 Thess 4:3 | "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality..." | God's will is personal holiness. |
| Isa 52:11 | "Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing... cleanse yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the LORD." | Purity for those in sacred service. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | "For if the blood of goats and bulls... sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ..." | Christ's blood provides true inner sanctification. |
1 Samuel 16 verses
1 Samuel 16 5 Meaning
Samuel's arrival in Bethlehem initially brought fear to the town elders. This verse records his reassuring declaration that his visit is not for judgment or trouble, but rather for the purpose of offering a sacrifice to the Lord. He then issues a command to the townspeople, especially calling Jesse and his sons, to ritually prepare and set themselves apart – to sanctify themselves – so they may participate in this sacred communal offering. His actions immediately following this underscore the specific importance of Jesse's family in the unfolding divine plan.
1 Samuel 16 5 Context
1 Samuel 16:5 occurs within a pivotal moment in Israelite history. Following God's rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience, the Lord instructs the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem (1 Sam 16:1-3). Samuel expresses fear, knowing Saul might kill him if he discovered this mission (1 Sam 16:2). God reassures Samuel and provides a cover story: Samuel is to go to Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice (1 Sam 16:3). When Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, the town elders are fearful, likely remembering Samuel's stern rebukes and the current turbulent political climate under Saul. This verse directly addresses their apprehension, revealing Samuel's public reason for visiting—a peaceful act of worship—and setting the stage for the clandestine anointing of David. Historically, prophets were figures of immense authority; their arrival could signify judgment or a significant divine event, hence the elders' initial alarm. Public sacrifice was a common and important communal religious activity in Israel, always requiring ritual purification and dedication from participants.
1 Samuel 16 5 Word analysis
- And he said: Refers to Samuel. It highlights his authoritative role as a prophet speaking God's word and direction, even if partially disclosed for a strategic purpose.
- It is peaceably: (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם, shalom) - Far richer than just "peace." Shalom conveys completeness, well-being, wholeness, safety, and prosperity. Samuel uses it to convey that his presence is benevolent and not for a punitive purpose, calming the elders' fears that he had come with judgment (as prophet-judges often did). This aligns with God's peaceful plan to establish a new, righteous king.
- I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: Samuel openly states a legitimate, holy reason for his visit. This serves as both a truthful public purpose and a divine cover for the primary, secret mission of anointing the next king. Sacrifices were central to Israelite worship, signifying atonement, fellowship, and devotion to Yahweh. This explains the subsequent call to sanctification.
- Sanctify yourselves: (Hebrew: הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, hitqad'shū) - Hithpael imperative of qadash, meaning "make oneself holy" or "set oneself apart." This command involved a process of ritual preparation, often including washing, abstention from certain activities (like sexual relations), and specific dress, to become ritually pure and fit to approach a holy God or participate in a sacred act. It was a required preparation for public worship and approaching the divine, emphasizing reverence and the holiness of God. This purification was a human act in response to a divine command, enabling a communal sacred experience.
- and come with me to the sacrifice: An invitation to partake in the religious ceremony. This public participation provides a natural and credible context for the events to unfold, allowing Samuel to discreetly observe Jesse's sons.
- And he sanctified Jesse and his sons: This action is significant. Samuel didn't just instruct them to sanctify themselves; he personally ensured (oversaw or facilitated) the sanctification of Jesse and his sons. This implies their central role and special divine interest in them for the specific purpose of anointing, subtly setting them apart from the general populace. This also underscores Samuel's prophetic authority in leading and validating such sacred preparations.
Word-groups Analysis:
- "It is peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD": This phrase combines assurance with a clear, God-honoring purpose. It redefines Samuel's presence from one of potential fear to one of sacred intention, highlighting the dual nature of his mission – publicly peaceful worship and divinely directed secret anointing.
- "Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice": This forms an imperative sequence. Preparation (sanctify yourselves) is directly linked to participation (come with me to the sacrifice). It emphasizes that engagement with the sacred demands a deliberate act of setting oneself apart, underscoring the seriousness of approaching God in worship.
- "He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice": This group of words draws particular attention to Jesse's household. Samuel's active role in their sanctification, rather than merely giving a general instruction, indicates their distinct importance to the narrative and God's plan. It confirms they are the central figures the Lord intends to work through, differentiating them from the other elders of Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 16 5 Bonus section
The required act of sanctification before approaching God or engaging in sacred acts, as seen in this verse, is a consistent theme throughout biblical narratives, from preparing for the covenant at Sinai (Exod 19) to priestly functions (Leviticus 8-10) and the anointing of leaders. This verse establishes a foundational principle: intimacy with God necessitates purity. Furthermore, Samuel's dual strategy of a truthful public reason (sacrifice) overlaying a concealed divine assignment (anointing the king) demonstrates God's pragmatic working through human agents in complex situations. This method protected Samuel and facilitated the unfolding of God's will under Saul's jealous eye. The focus on Jesse and his sons for specific sanctification prefigures the upcoming divine selection process, implying that not all are equally prepared or chosen for specific roles within God's larger plan, even within a communal setting.
1 Samuel 16 5 Commentary
1 Samuel 16:5 skillfully balances Samuel's public and private missions. His declaration of peace and purpose, "It is peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD," successfully defuses the elders' anxiety while subtly masking his true, divinely-appointed task to anoint a new king. The command to "sanctify yourselves" highlights the universal and perpetual requirement for purity and reverence when approaching the holy God for any spiritual encounter, whether sacrifice, prayer, or receiving divine revelation. It speaks to both outward ritual cleansing and inward heart preparation. By personally overseeing the sanctification of Jesse and his sons, Samuel draws them into special focus, signifying their unique importance to God's immediate plan. This selective action sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of God's choice among them, underscoring that divine election often comes with a prior call to intentional purification and readiness.