1 Samuel 16:8 kjv
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
1 Samuel 16:8 nkjv
So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
1 Samuel 16:8 niv
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
1 Samuel 16:8 esv
Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
1 Samuel 16:8 nlt
Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "This is not the one the LORD has chosen."
1 Samuel 16 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:7 | But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance... for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." | God's criteria: heart, not appearance. |
| 1 Sam 9:2 | He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person... higher than any of the people. | Saul chosen for outward appearance. |
| 1 Sam 10:23-24 | ...he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward... "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen?" | Saul's external selection contrasts with David's. |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?... He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Purity of heart required for dwelling with God. |
| Ps 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. | Emphasis on the spiritual state of the heart. |
| Prov 16:2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits. | God alone judges internal motives. |
| Jer 17:10 | I, the LORD, search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways... | God's absolute knowledge of the heart. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | ...the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts... If you seek Him, He will be found by you... | God scrutinizes intentions and minds. |
| Mt 15:18-19 | But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart... For out of the heart come evil thoughts... | Evil stems from within, confirming heart's importance. |
| Lk 16:15 | And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves... But God knows your hearts." | Human self-justification is countered by divine knowledge. |
| Acts 1:24 | And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen." | Apostolic prayer for divine guidance in choice. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but a Jew is one inwardly... whose praise is not from men but from God. | True identity and acceptance are internal. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adornment be merely outward... but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit... | True beauty is of the inner person. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. | God's criteria transcend human understanding. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise... mighty... noble... But God has chosen the foolish things... | God often chooses the unlikely to shame the wise. |
| Jn 15:16 | You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit... | Christ's active divine selection of disciples. |
| Eph 1:4 | just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame... | God's pre-creational election of believers. |
| Gen 4:4-5 | ...the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering... | God's rejection based on a deeper assessment (heart). |
| Gen 25:23 | And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb... And the older shall serve the younger." | God's preferential choice, often the younger/weaker. |
| Ex 33:19 | ...I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. | God's sovereign prerogative in election. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | ...though they were not yet born, nor had done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works... "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." | God's sovereign and unconditional election. |
1 Samuel 16 verses
1 Samuel 16 8 Meaning
1 Samuel 16:8 describes the continuing process of Samuel inspecting Jesse's sons, whom the Lord had not chosen as the next king of Israel. Jesse presented his second son, Abinadab, but Samuel received a divine revelation that Abinadab was not God's choice, mirroring the rejection of Eliab. This verse reinforces the critical principle introduced in 1 Samuel 16:7, where God clarifies that His selection is based on the heart, not outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16 8 Context
Chapter 16 marks a pivotal transition in the kingship of Israel. After Saul's disobedience and rejection (Ch. 15), God sends Samuel to anoint a new king. This verse (16:8) is part of a series where Jesse presents his sons to Samuel for divine selection. Samuel initially assumes the eldest, Eliab, is God's choice based on his appearance (1 Sam 16:6), but is immediately corrected by God in 1 Samuel 16:7. This divine instruction ("the LORD looks at the heart") serves as the overarching principle for the subsequent rejections of Abinadab (v.8), Shammah (v.9), and the other five unnamed sons (v.10). Each presentation and rejection reinforces Samuel's lesson, culminating in the selection of David, the youngest and most unlikely, working as a shepherd. Historically and culturally, ancient peoples often valued leaders with imposing physical stature, reflecting a common human tendency to judge by outward signs. God, through this process, is subverting this worldly standard and establishing a new criterion for His chosen leaders – inner character and alignment with His will, not human-perceived strength or beauty.
1 Samuel 16 8 Word analysis
- Then: Signifies a continuation of the narrative, following the rejection of Eliab.
- Jesse: (יִשַׁי - Yishay) Father of David, a humble Bethlehemite. His obedience in presenting his sons is key.
- called: (וַיִּקְרָא - vayyiqra') Simple summons. Jesse is facilitating the process initiated by Samuel.
- Abinadab: (אֲבִינָדָב - Avinadav) "My father is noble" or "my father is willing." The second son presented, a name fitting a prominent lineage, yet God did not choose him. This is a common Hebrew name in the Bible, important to distinguish this Abinadab as Jesse's son.
- and made him pass before Samuel: (וַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּ לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל - vayya'avirehu lifnei Shmu'el) "Caused him to pass over/by." This denotes a presentation for review, an act of formal display. The same phrase was used for Eliab, establishing a clear pattern of evaluation. Samuel is still the instrument, but God's divine revelation through him is the determining factor.
- But he said: (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) Refers to Samuel. He is communicating God's will.
- The LORD: (יְהוָה - Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, the one true sovereign. His decision is ultimate. His rejection of Abinadab reiterates His exclusive prerogative in choosing leaders.
- has not chosen: (לֹא בָחַר - lo' vachar) "Has not selected." Bachar is a crucial theological term meaning to choose, select, or elect. It signifies God's deliberate, sovereign act of selection for a particular purpose or relationship. This direct negative declaration by God underscores that the decision is purely divine.
- this one either: (גַּם בָּזֶה - gam bazeh) "Also with this one" or "even this one." The word "either" implies continuity of rejection, emphasizing that Abinadab shares the same fate as his older brother Eliab. It strengthens the idea that God is applying a consistent standard different from human expectations.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel": This phrase shows Jesse's dutiful compliance with Samuel's request. It's a structured, formal presentation. Each son is brought forward, giving Samuel the opportunity to inquire of the Lord.
- "But he said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either.'": This direct declaration by Samuel (guided by God) underscores divine authority. The repetition of "not chosen" (seen also in verse 9 for Shammah and verse 10 for the other five) highlights God's steadfast adherence to His criteria, distinct from human superficiality. The inclusion of "either" further cements the idea of a progressive test against a common, flawed human judgment (that assumed outward qualities would equal fitness for kingship).
1 Samuel 16 8 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "chosen," bachar (בָחַר), used here by the LORD regarding Abinadab, carries significant weight throughout the Old Testament. It describes God's deliberate and sovereign election of individuals (like Abraham or David), a nation (Israel), or a place (Jerusalem) for His divine purposes. Its usage here underlines that the decision for Israel's next king is not Samuel's or Jesse's, but exclusively the LORD's, based on criteria only He fully comprehends (i.e., the heart). The consistent pattern in scripture of God often bypassing the firstborn or conventionally strong/attractive to choose the unlikely or younger (e.g., Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his older brothers, Ephraim over Manasseh, and now David over his seven older brothers) serves as a recurring literary motif. This motif intentionally underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His profound ability to work powerfully through those whom the world might overlook, emphasizing that His wisdom transcends human understanding and standards.
1 Samuel 16 8 Commentary
1 Samuel 16:8 is a succinct reinforcement of God's rejection of human-centric selection processes for leadership, particularly after the human choice of Saul proved disastrous. Following the potent theological declaration in 1 Samuel 16:7 that "the LORD looks at the heart," this verse demonstrates that principle in action. Abinadab, likely another outwardly impressive son of Jesse, is presented to Samuel. However, he is quickly dismissed by divine pronouncement. This repeated rejection signifies that God is not searching for physical stature or outward charisma, qualities highly prized by humanity for kingship. Instead, He is patiently guiding Samuel through a profound lesson about the true qualities for His chosen ones – humility, integrity, and a heart responsive to Him, which will ultimately be found in David. The narrative uses this successive unveiling to impress upon the reader God's counter-cultural standard of election.
- Practical usage example: When evaluating leaders in church or life, do we prioritize outward skills and charisma, or inner character and spiritual fruit?
- Practical usage example: The passage reminds us not to be discouraged if we are not chosen for roles based on our external attributes; God's true evaluation is always of the heart.