1 Samuel 16 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק ט״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 16 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־שְׁמוּאֵלel-She/mu/ELto Samuelעַד־מָתַיad-ma/TAYhow longאַתָּהat/TAyouמִתְאַבֵּלmit/ab/BELwill mournאֶל־שָׁאוּלel-Sha/ULfor Saulוַאֲנִיva/a/NIseeing Iמְאַסְתִּיוme/as/TIVhave rejected himמִמְּלֹךְmim/me/LOKHfrom reigningעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵלal-Yis/ra/ELover Israelמַלֵּאmal/LEfillקַרְנְךָkar/ne/KHAyour hornשֶׁמֶןSHE/menwith oilוְלֵךְve/LEKHand goאֶשְׁלָחֲךָesh/la/cha/KHAI will send youאֶל־יִשַׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseבֵּית־הַלַּחְמִיbet-Hal/lach/MIthe Beth-lehemiteכִּי־רָאִיתִיki-ra/I/tifor I have providedבְּבָנָיוbe/va/NAYVamong his sonsלִיlifor Myselfמֶלֶךְ׃ME/lekha 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. 2

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֵיךְekhhow canאֵלֵךְe/LEKHI goוְשָׁמַעve/sha/MAif hearsשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulוַהֲרָגָנִיva/ha/ra/GA/nihe will kill meוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDעֶגְלַתeg/LATa heifer ofבָּקָרba/KARthe herdתִּקַּחtik/KACHtakeבְּיָדֶךָbe/ya/DE/khawith youוְאָמַרְתָּve/a/mar/TAand sayלִזְבֹּחַliz/BO/achto offerלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDבָּאתִי׃BA/tiI 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. 3

   וְקָרָאתָve/ka/RA/taand inviteלְיִשַׁיLe/yi/SHAYJesseבַּזָּבַחbaz/ZA/vachat the sacrificeוְאָנֹכִיve/a/no/KHIand Iאוֹדִיעֲךָo/di/a/KHAwill show youאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂהet-a/SHER-ta/a/SEwhat you shall doוּמָשַׁחְתָּu/ma/shach/TAand you shall anointלִיlifor Meאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַרet-a/SHER-o/MARhim whom I nameאֵלֶיךָ׃e/LE/khato 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. 4

   וַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֵת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERwhatדִּבֶּרdib/BERhad spokenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameבֵּיתBetBeth-לָחֶםLA/chemlehemוַיֶּחֶרְדוּvay/ye/cher/DUand trembledזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityלִקְרָאתוֹlik/ra/TOat meeting himוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשָׁלֹםsha/LOMis it peaceבּוֹאֶךָ׃bo/E/khayour 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. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשָׁלוֹםsha/LOMpeaceלִזְבֹּחַliz/BO/achto offerלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDבָּאתִיBA/tiI have comeהִתְקַדְּשׁוּhit/kad/de/SHUconsecrate yourselvesוּבָאתֶםu/va/TEMand comeאִתִּיit/TIwith meבַּזָּבַחbaz/ZA/vachat the sacrificeוַיְקַדֵּשׁvay/kad/DESHand he consecratedאֶת־יִשַׁיet-Yi/SHAYJesseוְאֶת־בָּנָיוve/ET-ba/NAYVand his sonsוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledלָהֶםla/HEMto themלַזָּבַח׃laz/ZA/vachfor 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. 6

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבְּבוֹאָםbe/vo/AMwhen they cameוַיַּרְאvay/YARand sawאֶת־אֱלִיאָבet-E/li/AVEliabוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאַךְakhsurelyנֶגֶדNE/gedbeforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDמְשִׁיחוֹ׃me/shi/CHOis 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. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־שְׁמוּאֵלel-She/mu/ELto Samuelאַל־תַּבֵּטal-tab/BETdo not lookאֶל־מַרְאֵהוּel-mar/E/huat his appearanceוְאֶל־גְּבֹהַּve/EL-ge/VO/ahor at the height ofקוֹמָתוֹko/ma/TOhis statureכִּיkiforמְאַסְתִּיהוּme/as/TI/huI have rejected himכִּיkiforלֹאlonotאֲשֶׁרa/SHERasיִרְאֶהyir/Eseesהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmanכִּיkiforהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmanיִרְאֶהyir/Elooksלַעֵינַיִםla/e/NA/yimon the outward appearanceוַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDיִרְאֶהyir/Elooksלַלֵּבָב׃lal/le/VAVon 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. 8

   וַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledיִשַׁיYi/SHAYJesseאֶל־אֲבִינָדָבel-A/vi/na/DAVto Abinadabוַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּvay/ya/a/vi/RE/huand made him passלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidגַּם־בָּזֶהgam-ba/ZEthis one alsoלֹא־בָחַרlo-va/CHARhas not chosenיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9. 9

   וַיַּעֲבֵרvay/ya/a/VERthen made passיִשַׁיYi/SHAYJesseשַׁמָּהSham/MAShammahוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidגַּם־בָּזֶהgam-ba/ZEthis one alsoלֹא־בָחַרlo-va/CHARhas not chosenיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10. 10

    וַיַּעֲבֵרvay/ya/a/VERand made passיִשַׁיYi/SHAYJesseשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATsevenבָּנָיוba/NAYVhis sonsלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseלֹא־בָחַרlo-va/CHARhas not chosenיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבָּאֵלֶּה׃ba/EL/lethese

    Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseהֲתַמּוּha/TAM/muare these allהַנְּעָרִיםhan/ne/a/RIMthe young menוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidעוֹדodstillשָׁאַרsha/ARremainsהַקָּטָןhak/ka/TANthe youngestוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdרֹעֶהro/Ehe is keepingבַּצֹּאןbats/TSONthe sheepוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־יִשַׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseשִׁלְחָהshil/CHAsendוְקָחֶנּוּve/ka/CHEN/nuand bring himכִּיkiforלֹא־נָסֹבlo-na/SOVwe will not sit downעַד־בֹּאוֹad-bo/Ountil he comesפֹה׃fohere

    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. 12

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand he sentוַיְבִיאֵהוּvay/vi/E/huand brought himוְהוּאve/HUnow he wasאַדְמוֹנִיad/mo/NIruddyעִם־יְפֵהim-ye/FEwith beautifulעֵינַיִםe/NA/yimeyesוְטוֹבve/TOVand handsomeרֹאִיRO/iin appearanceוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDקוּםkumariseמְשָׁחֵהוּme/sha/CHE/huanoint himכִּי־זֶהki-zefor thisהוּא׃huis 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. 13

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶת־קֶרֶןet-KE/renthe horn ofהַשֶּׁמֶןhash/SHE/menoilוַיִּמְשַׁחvay/yim/SHACHand anointedאֹתוֹo/TOhimבְּקֶרֶבbe/KE/revamongאֶחָיוe/CHAYVhis brothersוַתִּצְלַחvat/tits/LACHand came mightilyרוּחַ־יְהֹוָהRU/ach-Adonaithe Spirit of the LORDאֶל־דָּוִדel-Da/VIDupon Davidמֵהַיּוֹםme/hay/YOMfrom the dayהַהוּאha/HUthatוָמָעְלָהva/MA/laand onwardוַיָּקׇםvay/YA/komthen rose upשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelוַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentהָרָמָתָה׃ha/Ra/MA/tato 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. 14

    וְרוּחַve/RU/achbut the Spirit ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDסָרָהsa/RAhad departedמֵעִםme/IMfromשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulוּבִעֲתַתּוּu/vi/a/TAT/tuand terrified himרוּחַ־רָעָהRU/ach-ra/Aan evil spiritמֵאֵתme/ETfromיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

    But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidעַבְדֵי־שָׁאוּלav/DE-Sha/ULthe servants of Saulאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himהִנֵּה־נָאhin/NE-nabehold nowרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםRU/ach-e/lo/HIMa spirit of Godרָעָהra/Aevilמְבַעִתֶּךָ׃me/va/it/TE/khais terrifying you

    And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16. 16

    יֹאמַר־נָאyo/MAR-nalet command nowאֲדֹנֵנוּa/do/NE/nuour lordעֲבָדֶיךָa/va/DE/khayour servantsלְפָנֶיךָle/fa/NE/khawho are before youיְבַקְשׁוּye/vak/SHUto seekאִישׁisha manיֹדֵעַyo/DE/awho knows howמְנַגֵּןme/nag/GENto playבַּכִּנּוֹרbak/kin/NORthe lyreוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it shall beבִּהְיוֹתbih/YOTwhen isעָלֶיךָa/LE/khaupon youרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםRU/ach-e/lo/HIMa spirit of Godרָעָהra/Aevilוְנִגֵּןve/nig/GENthat he shall playבְּיָדוֹbe/ya/DOin his handוְטוֹבve/TOVand you will be wellלָךְ׃lakhyou

    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. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulאֶל־עֲבָדָיוel-a/va/DAYVto his servantsרְאוּ־נָאre/U-nafind nowלִיlifor meאִישׁisha manמֵיטִיבme/TIVwho plays wellלְנַגֵּןle/nag/GENplayingוַהֲבִיאוֹתֶםva/ha/vi/o/TEMand bring himאֵלָי׃e/LAYto me

    And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18. 18

    וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredאֶחָדe/CHADoneמֵהַנְּעָרִיםme/han/ne/a/RIMof the young menוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdרָאִיתִיra/I/tiI have seenבֵּןbena sonלְיִשַׁיle/Yi/SHAYof JesseבֵּיתBetthe Beth-הַלַּחְמִיhal/lach/MIlehemiteיֹדֵעַyo/DE/awho knows howנַגֵּןnag/GENplayingוְגִבּוֹרve/gib/BORand a mightyחַיִלCHA/yilman of valorוְאִישׁve/ISHand a man ofמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAwarוּנְבוֹןu/ne/VONand prudent inדָּבָרda/VARspeechוְאִישׁve/ISHand a man ofתֹּאַרTO/argood presenceוַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDעִמּוֹ׃im/MOwith 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. 19

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulמַלְאָכִיםmal/a/KHIMmessengersאֶל־יִשָׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשִׁלְחָהshil/CHAsendאֵלַיe/LAYto meאֶת־דָּוִדet-Da/VIDDavidבִּנְךָbin/KHAyour sonאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwho isבַּצֹּאן׃bats/TSONwith the sheep

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

20. 20

    וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookיִשַׁיYi/SHAYJesseחֲמוֹרcha/MORa donkey withלֶחֶםLE/chembreadוְנֹאדve/NODand a skin ofיַיִןYA/yinwineוּגְדִיu/ge/DIand a kidעִזִּיםiz/ZIMof goatsאֶחָדe/CHADoneוַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentבְּיַד־דָּוִדbe/YAD-da/VIDby the hand of Davidבְּנוֹbe/NOhis sonאֶל־שָׁאוּל׃el-Sha/ULto 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. 21

    וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameדָוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶל־שָׁאוּלel-Sha/ULto Saulוַיַּעֲמֹדvay/ya/a/MODand stoodלְפָנָיוle/fa/NAYVbefore himוַיֶּאֱהָבֵהוּvay/ye/e/ha/VE/huand he loved himמְאֹדme/ODgreatlyוַיְהִי־לוֹvay/HI-loand he became hisנֹשֵׂאno/SEbearer ofכֵלִים׃khe/LIMarmor

    And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22. 22

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulאֶל־יִשַׁיel-Yi/SHAYto Jesseלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingיַעֲמׇד־נָאya/a/MOD-nalet stand I prayדָוִדDa/VIDDavidלְפָנַיle/fa/NAYbefore meכִּי־מָצָאki-MA/tsafor he has foundחֵןchenfavorבְּעֵינָי׃be/e/NAYin my eyes

    And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23. 23

    וְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it came to passבִּהְיוֹתbih/YOTwhen wasרוּחַ־אֱלֹהִיםRU/ach-e/lo/HIMthe spirit of Godאֶל־שָׁאוּלel-Sha/ULupon Saulוְלָקַחve/la/KACHthat tookדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶת־הַכִּנּוֹרet-hak/kin/NORthe harpוְנִגֵּןve/nig/GENand playedבְּיָדוֹbe/ya/DOin his handוְרָוַחve/ra/VACHand was refreshedלְשָׁאוּלLe/sha/ULSaulוְטוֹבve/TOVand was wellלוֹloto himוְסָרָהve/SA/raand departedמֵעָלָיוme/a/LAYVfrom himרוּחַRU/achthe spiritהָרָעָה׃ha/ra/Aevil

    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.