1 Samuel 16:19
New International Version
Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

New Living Translation
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”

English Standard Version
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”

Berean Standard Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

King James Bible
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

New King James Version
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

New American Standard Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.”

NASB 1995
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

NASB 1977
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

Amplified Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the flock.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

American Standard Version
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.

Contemporary English Version
Saul sent a message to Jesse: "Tell your son David to leave your sheep and come here to me."

English Revised Version
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

Good News Translation
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the one who takes care of the sheep."

International Standard Version
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

Majority Standard Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ?Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.?

NET Bible
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send to me David thy son, who is with the sheep.

World English Bible
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul sends messengers to Jesse and says, “Send to me your son David, who [is] with the flock.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul sendeth messengers unto Jesse, and saith, 'Send unto me David thy son, who is with the flock.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will send messengers to Jesse, and he will say, Send to me David thy son who is with the sheep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Saul sent messengers to Isai, saying: Send me David thy son, who is in the pastures.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, “Send to me your son David, who is in the pastures.”

New American Bible
Accordingly, Saul dispatched messengers to ask Jesse to send him his son David, who was with the flock.

New Revised Standard Version
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the sheep.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Wherefore King Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me David your son; he will be useful to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And King Shaul sent to Iyshay and said to him: “Send me David your son. He is useful to me”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said: 'Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul sent messengers to Jessae, saying, Send to me thy son David who is with thy flock.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Serves Saul
18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:15
but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:55-58
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.” / “Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king. / So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. ...

1 Samuel 18:2
And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 18:5
So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 18:13
Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

1 Samuel 18:16
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

1 Samuel 18:30
Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

1 Samuel 19:8
When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.

1 Samuel 20:25
He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but David’s place was empty.

1 Samuel 21:2
“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.

1 Samuel 22:14
Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?

1 Samuel 25:28
Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live.

2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

2 Samuel 7:8
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

1 Chronicles 11:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep.

with the sheep

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

1 Samuel 17:15,33,34
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem…

Exodus 3:1-10
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb…

Jump to Previous
David Jesse Messengers Saul Servants Sheep Wherefore
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David Jesse Messengers Saul Servants Sheep Wherefore
1 Samuel 16
1. Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem
6. His human judgment is reproved
11. He anoints David
15. Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit














So Saul sent messengers
This phrase indicates the authority and power of King Saul, who, as the first king of Israel, had the ability to command and send messengers at his will. The Hebrew word for "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) often implies a mission or purpose. Saul's sending of messengers reflects the divine orchestration at play, as God is using Saul's authority to bring David into the royal court, setting the stage for David's future role as king. Historically, this action demonstrates the centralized power of the monarchy in ancient Israel, where the king's word was law.

to Jesse
Jesse, the father of David, is a significant figure in the lineage of Jesus Christ, as noted in the genealogies of the New Testament. The Hebrew name "Jesse" (יִשַׁי, Yishai) means "God exists" or "God's gift," which is fitting given his role in the divine plan. Jesse's family, residing in Bethlehem, is part of the tribe of Judah, which holds prophetic importance as the tribe from which the Messiah would come. This connection underscores the providential nature of God's plan, weaving together the lives of ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary purposes.

and said, 'Send me your son David
The request for "your son David" is pivotal. David, whose name in Hebrew (דָּוִד, David) means "beloved," is chosen by God to be the future king of Israel. This moment marks the beginning of David's journey from shepherd to sovereign. The phrase highlights the divine selection of David, a young shepherd, over his older brothers, emphasizing God's preference for the heart over outward appearances. This choice reflects the biblical theme that God often chooses the least likely individuals to accomplish His will, demonstrating His power and wisdom.

who is with the sheep
David's occupation as a shepherd is symbolic and prophetic. The Hebrew word for "sheep" (צֹאן, tson) is often used in Scripture to represent God's people. David's role as a shepherd foreshadows his future as the shepherd-king of Israel, caring for and leading God's flock. This imagery is later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. The pastoral setting also speaks to David's humble beginnings and the development of his character, as tending sheep required courage, patience, and a heart for service—qualities essential for his future kingship. Historically, shepherding was a common occupation in ancient Israel, and it provided a rich metaphor for leadership and care.

Verses 19, 20. - Saul sent messengers to fetch David, the description of him as a brave soldier being even more to the king's liking (see 1 Samuel 14:52) than his skill in music. As a great man might not be approached without a present (1 Samuel 9:7; 1 Samuel 10:4), Jesse sends one consisting of produce from his farm. It consisted of an ass of bread - a strange expression; but there is little doubt that a word has been omitted, and that we should read, with the Syriac, "And Jesse took an ass, and laded it with bread, and a skin of wine, and a kid." It was not an ass laden with bread, as in the A.V., but all three things were placed upon the animal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Saul
שָׁא֛וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

messengers
מַלְאָכִ֖ים (mal·’ā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jesse
יִשָׁ֑י (yi·šāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

and said,
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Send
שִׁלְחָ֥ה (šil·ḥāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

me your son
בִּנְךָ֖ (bin·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

David,
דָּוִ֥ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

who
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

is with the sheep.”
בַּצֹּֽאן׃ (baṣ·ṣōn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


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OT History: 1 Samuel 16:19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 16:18
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