1 Samuel 16:6

1 Samuel 16:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.
• New International Version (NIV)When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

Context of 1 Samuel 16:6

4So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

1 Samuel 16:6 word by word

וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֔ם וַיַּ֖רְא אֶת־אֱלִיאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַ֛ךְ נֶ֥גֶד יְהוָ֖ה מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• ·הָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• When they arrivedבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• Samuel sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Eliabאֱלִיאָב'ĕlîy'âb · EliabH446
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surelyאַךְ'ak · surelyH389
• here beforeנֶ֫גֶדneged · beforeH5048
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• anointedמָשִׁיחַmâshîyach · anointedH4899

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:6

• 1 Samuel 17:13The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.
• 1 Chronicles 2:13Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,
• 1 Chronicles 27:18over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael;
• Judges 8:18Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.”
• 1 Kings 12:26Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:6

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 It was strange that Samuel, who had been so disappointed in Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should judge of another man by that rule. We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not favour our children…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7his appearance or height: Like Saul, Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, looked impressive (see 1 Samuel 9:2). But like Saul, God rejected him (see 1 Samuel 15:23). God had chosen someone else to anoint as king. the LORD sees the heart: God can give a new heart (see 1 Samuel 10:9), touch hearts (see 10:26), and understand deep motivations (see Psalm 139:1). God sees what people cannot. God sees a person’s true character. Eliab’s character is revealed in 1 Samuel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-106-10. Samuel said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him--Here Samuel, in consequence of taking his impressions from the external appearance, falls into the same error as formerly (1Sa 10:24). 1Sa 16:11-14. He Anoints David.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 16:6

• Church and State
• Eliab
• Elihu
• Jesse
• King
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Appearance
• Bethlehem
• Comely
• David
• Eliab
• Elihu (1)
• Genealogy
• Jesse
• Mediation; Mediator
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings