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 as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” 5“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. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8Then 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 16:6 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when they were comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• that he lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• on Eliabאֱלִיאָב'ĕlîy'âb · EliabH446
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surely the Lord’sיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• anointedמָשִׁיחַmâshîyach · anointedH4899

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 16:6

• 1 Samuel 17:13Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines.
• 1 Chronicles 2:13Jesse’s first son was Eliab, his second was Abinadab, his third was Shimea,
• 1 Chronicles 27:18Judah Elihu (a brother of David) Issachar Omri son of Michael
• Judges 8:18Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?” “Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”
• 1 Kings 12:26Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty 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