New International Version
1 Samuel 16:12
12So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1 Samuel 16:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”
- New Living Translation (NLT)So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
Context of 1 Samuel 16:12
10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13So 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. 14Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
Read all of 1 Samuel 161 Samuel 16:12 word by word
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ וְה֣וּא אַדְמוֹנִ֔י עִם־יְפֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם וְט֣וֹב רֹ֑אִי פ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה ק֥וּם מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ כִּֽי־זֶ֥ה הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- and brought him inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- ruddyאַדְמוֹנִי'admônîy 'admônîy · redH132
- withalעִם‛im · withH5973
- of a beautifulיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- countenanceעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- and goodlyטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- to look toרֳאִיrŏ'îy · sightH7210
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- anointמָשַׁחmâshach · to anointH4886
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:12
- 1 Samuel 17:42He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
- Lamentations 4:7Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.
- Acts 7:20“At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family.
- Hebrews 11:23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- 1 Samuel 9:17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
- Psalms 2:2The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
- Psalms 89:19Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people.
- Acts 4:27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12He was ruddy - I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin and florid complexion.Read the comment
- 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. 1-23David replaced Saul as king. David and Saul were alike in these ways: Samuel anointed both. Neither was pursuing the position of king. Both were unlikely choices (Saul was from the smallest tribe, and David was the youngest son). They were both good-looking (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:12). The Spirit rushed upon each when anointed as king (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6; 16:13). The main difference was that David was "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; compare…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. he was ruddy, &c.--Josephus says that David was ten, while most modern commentators are of the opinion that he must have been fifteen years of age.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 16:12
In the dictionaries
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries