1 Samuel 16:20
New International Version
So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

New Living Translation
Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.

English Standard Version
And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.

Berean Standard Bible
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

King James Bible
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

New King James Version
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.

New American Standard Bible
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.

NASB 1995
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.

NASB 1977
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a wineskin of wine and a young goat and sent them to Saul by David his son.

Amplified Bible
Jesse took a donkey [loaded with] bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.

Christian Standard Bible
So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

American Standard Version
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

Contemporary English Version
Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a goatskin full of wine, then he told David to take the donkey and a young goat to Saul.

English Revised Version
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesse took six bushels of bread, a full wineskin, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

Good News Translation
Jesse sent David to Saul with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a leather bag full of wine.

International Standard Version
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David.

Majority Standard Bible
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

NET Bible
So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David.

New Heart English Bible
And Jesse took a donkey and loaded it with an omer of bread, and a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

World English Bible
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesse takes a donkey, bread, and a bottle of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sends [them] by the hand of his son David to Saul.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesse taketh an ass, with bread, and a bottle of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sendeth by the hand of David his son unto Saul.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesse will take a heap of bread and a sack of wine, and one kid of the goats, and he will send by the hand of David his son to Saul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Isai took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid of the flock, and sent them by the hand of David his son to Saul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid from one of the goats, and he sent them, by the hand of his son David, to Saul.

New American Bible
Then Jesse took five loaves of bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

New Revised Standard Version
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a kid, and sent them by his son David to Saul.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a skin of wine and a kid of goats, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Iyshay took a donkey and he loaded bread and wineskins of wine and one goat of the goats, and he sent by the hand of David his son to Shaul
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jessae took a homer of bread, and a bottle of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sent them by the hand of his son David to Saul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Serves Saul
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. 21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.…

Cross References
Genesis 43:11
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

1 Kings 10:2
She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

2 Samuel 16:1-2
When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. / “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

Judges 13:19
Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife looked on, the LORD did a marvelous thing.

1 Kings 17:10-11
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.”

2 Kings 4:42
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

2 Samuel 17:28-29
They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, / honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

1 Chronicles 12:40
And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.

2 Chronicles 31:5-6
As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. / And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Nehemiah 13:5
and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Luke 7:37-38
When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. / As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Acts 10:25-26
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. / But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

an ass laden.

1 Samuel 10:27
But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

1 Samuel 17:18
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

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Ass Bottle Bread Cakes David Donkey Hand Jesse Jug Kid Loaded Saul Skin Wine Young
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Ass Bottle Bread Cakes David Donkey Hand Jesse Jug Kid Loaded Saul Skin Wine Young
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 Jesse took
The phrase begins with Jesse, the father of David, taking action. Jesse's role is significant as he is part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, highlighting the importance of family and obedience in God's plan. The Hebrew root for "took" (לָקַח, laqach) often implies a deliberate action, suggesting Jesse's obedience and willingness to support God's unfolding plan for David.

a donkey loaded with bread
The donkey, a common beast of burden in ancient Israel, symbolizes humility and service. Bread, a staple of life, represents sustenance and provision. In a spiritual sense, bread often symbolizes the Word of God, which sustains believers. Jesse's provision of bread signifies his care and the importance of providing for both physical and spiritual needs.

a skin of wine
Wine in biblical times was a symbol of joy and celebration, as well as a common offering. The "skin" refers to the animal skins used to store liquids, a practical method in ancient times. Wine also has sacramental connotations, foreshadowing the New Testament's use of wine in the Lord's Supper, symbolizing the blood of Christ and the new covenant.

and a young goat
The young goat, or kid, was often used in sacrifices and feasts, symbolizing atonement and fellowship. This gift reflects the cultural practices of hospitality and respect, as well as the sacrificial system that pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The offering of a goat underscores the themes of reconciliation and peace.

and sent them to Saul
Jesse's act of sending these gifts to Saul demonstrates respect and submission to the king, despite Saul's later opposition to David. This act of sending gifts is a gesture of goodwill and allegiance, reflecting the biblical principle of honoring authority, as seen in Romans 13:1-7.

with his son David
David, the youngest son of Jesse, is introduced here in a role of service. His journey to Saul marks the beginning of his rise to prominence. David's obedience to his father and his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy highlight the biblical theme that God often chooses the least likely individuals to fulfill His purposes, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

(20) And Jesse took an ass.--It was and is ever customary in the East to acknowledge obedience and subjection with a present. Jesse, the sheik of Bethlehem, would thus be expected on sending his son to the court of Saul to acknowledge his sovereign by some token of homage.

The nature of Jesse's gifts shows how simple and primitive were the customs of the Hebrew people at that time.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Jesse
יִשַׁ֜י (yi·šay)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

took
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a donkey [loaded with]
חֲמ֥וֹר (ḥă·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

bread,
לֶ֙חֶם֙ (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

a skin
וְנֹ֣אד (wə·nōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4997: A skin bottle, skin

of wine,
יַ֔יִן (ya·yin)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3196: Wine, intoxication

and one
אֶחָ֑ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

young goat,
וּגְדִ֥י (ū·ḡə·ḏî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1423: A kid (a young goat)

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

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

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

with
בְּיַד־ (bə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

his son
בְּנ֖וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third 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


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OT History: 1 Samuel 16:20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 16:19
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