1 Samuel 16 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק ט״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 16 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶל־שְׁמוּאֵלto-Samuelעַד־מָתַיhow-longאַתָּהyouמִתְאַבֵּלwill-you-mournאֶל־שָׁאוּלfor-Saulוַאֲנִיand-IמְאַסְתִּיוI-have-rejected-himמִמְּלֹךְfrom-reigningעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵלover-Israelמַלֵּאfillקַרְנְךָyour-hornשֶׁמֶןoilוְלֵךְand-goאֶשְׁלָחֲךָI-will-send-youאֶל־יִשַׁיto-Jesseבֵּית־הַלַּחְמִיthe-Beth-lehemiteכִּי־רָאִיתִיfor-I-have-providedבְּבָנָיוamong-his-sonsלִיto-meמֶלֶךְ׃a-king
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֵיךְhow-canאֵלֵךְI-goוְשָׁמַעif-hearsשָׁאוּלSaulוַהֲרָגָנִיand-he-will-kill-meוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDעֶגְלַתa-heiferבָּקָרof-the-herdתִּקַּחyou-shall-takeבְּיָדֶךָinto-your-handוְאָמַרְתָּand-sayלִזְבֹּחַto-offerלַיהֹוָהto-the-LORDבָּאתִי׃I-have-come
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3
וְקָרָאתָand-callלְיִשַׁיJesseבַּזָּבַחat-the-sacrificeוְאָנֹכִיand-IאוֹדִיעֲךָI-will-make-known-to-youאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂהwhat-you-shall-doוּמָשַׁחְתָּand-you-will-anointלִיfor-Meאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַרthat-which-I-sayאֵלֶיךָ׃to-you
And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4
וַיַּעַשׂand-didשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֵת־אֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרhad-spokenיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוַיָּבֹאand-cameבֵּיתBeth-לָחֶםlehemוַיֶּחֶרְדוּand-trembledזִקְנֵיthe-elders-ofהָעִירthe-cityלִקְרָאתוֹto-meet-himוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁלֹםdo-you-come-peaceablyבּוֹאֶךָ׃your-coming
And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁלוֹםpeaceablyלִזְבֹּחַto-offerלַיהֹוָהto-the-LORDבָּאתִיI-have-comeהִתְקַדְּשׁוּsanctify-yourselvesוּבָאתֶםand-comeאִתִּיwith-meבַּזָּבַחat-the-sacrificeוַיְקַדֵּשׁand-he-sanctifiedאֶת־יִשַׁיJesseוְאֶת־בָּנָיוand-his-sonsוַיִּקְרָאand-calledלָהֶםto-themלַזָּבַח׃for-the-sacrifice
And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6
וַיְהִיand-it-came-to-passבְּבוֹאָםwhen-they-cameוַיַּרְאand-sawאֶת־אֱלִיאָבEliabוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאַךְsurelyנֶגֶדbeforeיְהֹוָהthe-LORDמְשִׁיחוֹ׃is-His-anointed
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
7
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶל־שְׁמוּאֵלto-Samuelאַל־תַּבֵּטlook-notאֶל־מַרְאֵהוּon-his-countenanceוְאֶל־גְּבֹהַּor-on-the-height-ofקוֹמָתוֹhis-statureכִּיbecauseמְאַסְתִּיהוּI-have-refused-himכִּיbecauseלֹאnotאֲשֶׁרwhichיִרְאֶהshall-seeהָאָדָםthe-manכִּיbecauseהָאָדָםthe-manיִרְאֶהshall-seeלַעֵינַיִםon-the-outward-appearanceוַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDיִרְאֶהshall-seeלַלֵּבָב׃on-the-heart
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8
וַיִּקְרָאand-calledיִשַׁיJesseאֶל־אֲבִינָדָבto-Abinadabוַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּand-made-him-passלִפְנֵיbeforeשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidגַּם־בָּזֶהneither-thisלֹא־בָחַרhas-not-chosenיְהֹוָה׃the-LORD
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9
וַיַּעֲבֵרthen-made-to-passיִשַׁיJesseשַׁמָּהShammahוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidגַּם־בָּזֶהneither-thisלֹא־בָחַרhas-not-chosenיְהֹוָה׃the-LORD
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10
וַיַּעֲבֵרand-made-to-passיִשַׁיJesseשִׁבְעַתsevenבָּנָיוhis-sonsלִפְנֵיbeforeשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיto-Jesseלֹא־בָחַרhas-not-chosenיְהֹוָהthe-LORDבָּאֵלֶּה׃these
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיto-Jesseהֲתַמּוּare-here-allהַנְּעָרִיםthe-childrenוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidעוֹדany-moreשָׁאַרthere-remainsהַקָּטָןthe-youngestוְהִנֵּהand-beholdרֹעֶהhe-keepsבַּצֹּאןthe-sheepוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיto-Jesseשִׁלְחָהsendוְקָחֶנּוּand-fetch-himכִּיforלֹא־נָסֹבwe-will-not-sit-downעַד־בֹּאוֹuntil-his-comingפֹה׃here
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.
12
וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentוַיְבִיאֵהוּand-brought-himוְהוּאand-heאַדְמוֹנִיruddyעִם־יְפֵהand-withal-of-a-beautifulעֵינַיִםcountenanceוְטוֹבand-goodlyרֹאִיto-look-uponוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיְהֹוָהthe-LORDקוּםariseמְשָׁחֵהוּanoint-himכִּי־זֶהfor-thisהוּא׃he
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.
13
וַיִּקַּחand-tookשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelאֶת־קֶרֶןthe-horn-ofהַשֶּׁמֶןthe-oilוַיִּמְשַׁחand-anointedאֹתוֹhimבְּקֶרֶבin-the-midst-ofאֶחָיוhis-brethrenוַתִּצְלַחand-came-mightilyרוּחַ־יְהֹוָהspirit-of-the-LORDאֶל־דָּוִדupon-Davidמֵהַיּוֹםfrom-that-dayהַהוּאthatוָמָעְלָהand-upwardsוַיָּקׇםand-aroseשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentהָרָמָתָה׃to-Ramah
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14
וְרוּחַbut-the-spirit-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDסָרָהdepartedמֵעִםfromשָׁאוּלSaulוּבִעֲתַתּוּand-troubled-himרוּחַ־רָעָהan-evil-spiritמֵאֵתfromיְהֹוָה׃the-LORD
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15
וַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidעַבְדֵי־שָׁאוּלservants-of-Saulאֵלָיוto-himהִנֵּה־נָאbehold-I-prayרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםa-spirit-of-Godרָעָהevilמְבַעִתֶּךָ׃troubles-you
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16
יֹאמַר־נָאlet-now-commandאֲדֹנֵנוּour-lordעֲבָדֶיךָyour-servantsלְפָנֶיךָbefore-youיְבַקְשׁוּto-seek-outאִישׁa-manיֹדֵעַwho-knows-howמְנַגֵּןto-playבַּכִּנּוֹרon-the-harpוְהָיָהand-it-shall-beבִּהְיוֹתwhen-isעָלֶיךָupon-youרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםa-spirit-of-Godרָעָהevilוְנִגֵּןthat-he-shall-playבְּיָדוֹin-his-handוְטוֹבand-you-shall-be-wellלָךְ׃to-you
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17
וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁאוּלSaulאֶל־עֲבָדָיוto-his-servantsרְאוּ־נָאprovide-me-nowלִיto-meאִישׁa-manמֵיטִיבwho-can-play-wellלְנַגֵּןto-playוַהֲבִיאוֹתֶםand-bring-himאֵלָי׃unto-me
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18
וַיַּעַןand-he-answeredאֶחָדoneמֵהַנְּעָרִיםof-the-servantsוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהִנֵּהbeholdרָאִיתִיI-have-seenבֵּןa-sonלְיִשַׁיof-JesseבֵּיתBeth-הַלַּחְמִיlehemiteיֹדֵעַwho-knows-howנַגֵּןto-playוְגִבּוֹרand-a-mightyחַיִלman-of-valorוְאִישׁand-a-man-ofמִלְחָמָהwarוּנְבוֹןand-prudent-inדָּבָרspeechוְאִישׁand-a-man-ofתֹּאַרof-good-presenceוַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDעִמּוֹ׃with-him
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19
וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentשָׁאוּלSaulמַלְאָכִיםmessengersאֶל־יִשָׁיto-Jesseוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשִׁלְחָהsendאֵלַיto-meאֶת־דָּוִדDavidבִּנְךָyour-sonאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּצֹּאן׃with-the-sheep
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20
וַיִּקַּחand-tookיִשַׁיJesseחֲמוֹרan-ass-laden-withלֶחֶםbreadוְנֹאדand-a-bottle-ofיַיִןwineוּגְדִיand-a-kidעִזִּיםof-the-goatsאֶחָדoneוַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentבְּיַד־דָּוִדby-Davidבְּנוֹhis-sonאֶל־שָׁאוּל׃to-Saul
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.
21
וַיָּבֹאand-cameדָוִדDavidאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulוַיַּעֲמֹדand-stoodלְפָנָיוbefore-himוַיֶּאֱהָבֵהוּand-he-loved-himמְאֹדexceedinglyוַיְהִי־לוֹand-he-became-hisנֹשֵׂאbearer-ofכֵלִים׃armor
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22
וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentשָׁאוּלSaulאֶל־יִשַׁיto-Jesseלֵאמֹרsayingיַעֲמׇד־נָאlet-stand-nowדָוִדDavidלְפָנַיbefore-meכִּי־מָצָאfor-he-has-foundחֵןfavorבְּעֵינָי׃in-my-sight
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23
וְהָיָהand-it-came-to-passבִּהְיוֹתwhen-wasרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםthe-spirit-of-Godאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulוְלָקַחthat-tookדָּוִדDavidאֶת־הַכִּנּוֹרthe-harpוְנִגֵּןand-playedבְּיָדוֹin-his-handוְרָוַחso-was-refreshedלְשָׁאוּלto-Saulוְטוֹבand-was-wellלוֹto-himוְסָרָהand-departedמֵעָלָיוfrom-himרוּחַthe-spirit-ofהָרָעָה׃the-evil
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.