1 Samuel 17 55

1 Samuel 17:55 kjv

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

1 Samuel 17:55 nkjv

When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

1 Samuel 17:55 niv

As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is that young man?" Abner replied, "As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don't know."

1 Samuel 17:55 esv

As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."

1 Samuel 17:55 nlt

As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" "I really don't know," Abner declared.

1 Samuel 17 verses

1 Samuel 17 55 Meaning

1 Samuel 17:55 recounts King Saul's inquiry to Abner, his army commander, about the paternal identity of David immediately following David's victory over Goliath. Despite David having served in Saul's court as a musician and armor-bearer, Saul's question suggests a surprising lack of recognition regarding David's specific family background. Abner, in turn, solemnly affirms his ignorance. This exchange highlights Saul's failing memory or selective awareness, serving as a narrative pivot to introduce David as a new, formidable figure in the public eye and to underscore God's sovereign hand in establishing His chosen king.

1 Samuel 17 55 Context

1 Samuel chapter 17 is set during a major confrontation between the Israelite and Philistine armies in the Valley of Elah. For forty days, the Philistine champion, Goliath, issued a daily challenge to single combat, demoralizing the Israelite forces as no one, including King Saul, dared to face him. David, a young shepherd, arrives from Bethlehem to deliver food to his brothers on the battlefield. Hearing Goliath's blasphemous taunts and witnessing the paralyzing fear of the Israelite army, David is stirred by a fervent zeal for God's honor. Despite his youth and lack of military training, he confidently volunteers to fight Goliath. Although Saul is initially doubtful, he reluctantly agrees after hearing David recount how God had previously enabled him to protect his flock from lions and bears. It is immediately after David astonishingly slays Goliath that Saul, observing the feat, questions his identity to Abner, creating a moment of significant narrative tension and curiosity. The broader historical context is a kingdom still in its early stages, led by Saul, who is already losing God's favor and becoming spiritually troubled, while God is preparing David to replace him.

1 Samuel 17 55 Word analysis

• And Saul (וְשָׁאוּל - wəšā'ūl): "And Saul." The conjunction "and" links this action directly to the decisive event of Goliath's defeat, emphasizing its immediate aftermath. Saul, meaning "asked for," highlights his human appointment as king, a kingship now in decline.
• saw (רָאָה - rā'āh): "saw," "perceived." Denotes direct visual observation, indicating that David's victorious action immediately prompted Saul's query. This physical seeing contrasts with a spiritual or relational "knowing" of David.
• David (דָּוִד - Dāwīḏ): "David," meaning "beloved." The name itself is prophetic of his status as "a man after God's own heart." This moment marks his dramatic public debut.
• go out (יָצָא - yāṣā'): "went forth," "came out." Describes David's decisive advance from the Israelite ranks to engage Goliath, emphasizing his initiative and courage.
• against the Philistine (אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי - ʾel-happəlištî): "against the Philistine." Specifically refers to Goliath. The focus is on the direct confrontation with the national enemy, making David's feat momentous.
• he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - wayyōʾmer): "and he said." Introduces Saul's direct speech.
• to Abner (אֶל־אַבְנֵר - ʾel-ʾaḇnēr): "to Abner." Saul's cousin and military commander, a person who should be intimately aware of important individuals in the royal service, making his response surprising.
• commander of the army (שַׂר־צָבָא - sar-ṣāḇāʾ): "chief of the army," "captain of the host." This title confirms Abner's high-ranking position and the expectation that he would possess such knowledge.
• "Whose son (בֶּן־מִי - ben-mî)?": "Son of whom?" A direct question concerning paternal identity, crucial for social status, lineage, and recognition in ancient Israelite society. Saul's interest might be in assessing potential new military leaders or seeking the family who raised such a remarkable warrior.
• is this youth (הַנַּ֫עַר הַזֶּה - hannaʿar hazzeh): "this young man." Refers to David. The term "youth" underscores David's unseasoned appearance compared to Goliath's stature, amplifying the miracle of his victory.
• And Abner said (וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְנֵר - wayyōʾmer ʾaḇnēr): "And Abner said." Abner's immediate verbal response.
• "As your soul lives (חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ - ḥēy nap̄šəḵā), O king (הַמֶּלֶךְ - hammeleḵ),": "By the life of your soul, O king." A solemn and binding oath, a common biblical affirmation of truth. It lends absolute certainty to Abner's statement of ignorance.
• "I do not know (לֹא יָדָעְתִּי - lōʾ yāḏāʿtî)": "I did not know" or "I have not known." An emphatic declaration of lack of knowledge regarding David's father. This denial from a chief commander is startling, especially given David's previous presence in the royal court.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine...": This opening phrase establishes the specific context for Saul's question: David's courageous, victorious action. It is this profound demonstration of valor that triggers Saul's inquiry, indicating that David's public deed finally makes his identity critically important.
• "Abner, whose son is this youth?": This critical question emphasizes the deep-seated importance of patrilineal identity and family lineage in ancient Israelite society. Saul is seeking to understand the background of a remarkably courageous, albeit youthful, individual. The question shifts focus from "who is this person" to "what family does this person belong to," implying a potential future role or honor for David and his family.
• "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.": Abner's oath-bound response dramatically underscores the genuineness of his ignorance, creating a sense of surprise and reinforcing David's humble and uncelebrated background prior to this event. It highlights that even among the highest officials, David's familial roots were not well-known, making his emergence from obscurity even more miraculous.

1 Samuel 17 55 Bonus section

The literary function of 1 Samuel 17:55-58, particularly Saul's inquiry about David's father, is multifaceted. Beyond the explanations for Saul's apparent memory lapse, this section serves as a crucial bridge to the unfolding narrative of David's formal integration into the royal family and army. It is a moment of re-introduction for David, marking the precise point at which his national identity begins to be established. Prior to this, David's significance was personal (to Saul, as harpist) or regional (to his family in Bethlehem). His defeat of Goliath transforms him into a figure of national interest, requiring the formal understanding of his background and lineage. The specific query about his father, rather than simply "Who are you?", reflects the deeply ingrained cultural importance of tribal and family identity in Israel, particularly for someone being considered for significant honor or military appointment. It ensures that when David is established, his family, specifically Jesse of Bethlehem, is recognized as the source of this deliverer, further connecting him to the Judahite line from which kings would come.

1 Samuel 17 55 Commentary

1 Samuel 17:55 presents a textual conundrum given previous passages (1 Sam 16:17-23) which state David had already served in Saul's court and become his armor-bearer, and even Saul "loved him greatly." The seemingly contradictory nature of Saul's question, "Whose son is this youth?", immediately after David's extraordinary triumph over Goliath, has been subject to various interpretations. Some suggest that while Saul knew David as a musician and armor-bearer, he might not have deeply registered his specific paternal lineage, Jesse, particularly given David's relatively low status at court. David's intermittent presence, going "back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep" (1 Sam 17:15), could also contribute to Saul's temporary memory lapse or a lack of emphasis on knowing his father. Furthermore, Saul's own troubled mental and spiritual state, brought on by the evil spirit from God, may have impaired his recall or ability to focus on such details.

Theologically, this passage is not necessarily a factual inconsistency but serves a vital narrative and spiritual purpose. It functions as a dramatic unveiling of God's chosen deliverer. By highlighting Saul's ignorance and David's relative anonymity even within the court, the narrative emphasizes that David's rise is purely an act of God's sovereign grace and power, not due to human promotion, a pre-existing renowned lineage, or Saul's recognition. David emerges not from privilege but from pastoral obscurity, made famous by God alone through a spectacular display of faith and divine enabling. This question marks the moment David transitions from private service to public national recognition, orchestrated by God for His redemptive plan.

• Example 1: A believer, striving in quiet faithfulness, might feel overlooked. This verse reminds that God sees, knows, and elevates in His perfect timing, often from seemingly unnoticed backgrounds.
• Example 2: It encourages trust in divine providence; even when human leaders or circumstances fail to acknowledge true merit, God's plan unfolds irrespective of such limitations.