--- title: 1 Samuel 16 — the Tanakh in Hebrew, Aramaic and English, with trees description: 1 Samuel chapter 16 of the Tanakh (Nevi'im — the Prophets) in Hebrew, Aramaic (Targum Jonathan) and English (JPS 1917), every verse with its syntax tree and pragmatics. It begins: And the LORD said unto Samuel: 'How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israe --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA/16/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tanakh/) / [Nevi'im](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/) / [1 Samuel](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA/) / chapter 16 # 1 Samuel 16 23 verses, each with its tree and pragmatics: Hebrew, Aramaic (Targum Jonathan) and English (JPS 1917), the English sentence by sentence. - [16:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.1/) — וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל עַד־מָתַי אַתָּה מִתְאַבֵּל אֶל־שָׁאוּל וַאֲנִי מְאַסְתִּיו מִמְּלֹךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלֵּא קַרְנְךָ שֶׁמֶן וְלֵךְ אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל־יִשַׁי בֵּֽית־הַלַּחְמִיבֵּֽית־הַלַּחְמִי כִּֽי־רָאִיתִי בְּבָנָיו לִי מֶֽלֶךְ׃ — And the LORD said unto Samuel: 'How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided Me a king among his sons.' - [16:2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.2/) — וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֵיךְ אֵלֵךְ וְשָׁמַע שָׁאוּל וַהֲרָגָנִיס וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה עֶגְלַת בָּקָר תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ לִזְבֹּחַ לַֽיהוָה בָּֽאתִי׃ — And Samuel said: 'How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me.' And the LORD said: 'Take a heifer with thee, and say: I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. - [16:3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.3/) — וְקָרָאתָ לְיִשַׁי בַּזָּבַח וְאָֽנֹכִי אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ אֵת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ לִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ — And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto thee.' - [16:4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.4/) — וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁמוּאֵל אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה וַיָּבֹא בֵּית לָחֶם בֵּית לָחֶם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלֹם בּוֹאֶֽךָ׃ — And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said: 'Comest thou peaceably?' - [16:5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.5/) — וַיֹּאמֶר ׀ שָׁלוֹם לִזְבֹּחַ לַֽיהוָה בָּאתִי הִֽתְקַדְּשׁוּ וּבָאתֶם אִתִּי בַּזָּבַח וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת־יִשַׁי וְאֶת־בָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא לָהֶם לַזָּֽבַח׃ — 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. - [16:6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.6/) — וַיְהִי בְּבוֹאָם וַיַּרְא אֶת־אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ נֶגֶד יְהוָה מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ — And it came to pass, when they were come, that he beheld Eliab, and said: 'Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him.' - [16:7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.7/) — וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל אַל־תַּבֵּט אֶל־מַרְאֵהוּ וְאֶל־גְּבֹהַּ קוֹמָתוֹ כִּי מְאַסְתִּיהוּ כִּי ׀ לֹא אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם כִּי הָֽאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם וַיהוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָֽב׃ — But the LORD said unto Samuel: 'Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.' - [16:8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.8/) — וַיִּקְרָא יִשַׁי אֶל־אֲבִינָדָב וַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּ לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶה לֹֽא־בָחַר יְהוָֽה׃ — Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said: 'Neither hath the LORD chosen this.' - [16:9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.9/) — וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שַׁמָּה וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶה לֹא־בָחַר יְהוָֽה׃ — Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said: 'Neither hath the LORD chosen this.' - [16:10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.10/) — וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שִׁבְעַת בָּנָיו לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי לֹא־בָחַר יְהוָה בָּאֵֽלֶּה׃ — And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse: 'The LORD hath not chosen these.' - [16:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.11/) — וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי הֲתַמּוּ הַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד שָׁאַר הַקָּטָן וְהִנֵּה רֹעֶה בַּצֹּאן וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי שִׁלְחָה וְקָחֶנּוּ כִּי לֹא־נָסֹב עַד־בֹּאוֹ פֹֽה׃ — 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.' - [16:12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.12/) — וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיְבִיאֵהוּ וְהוּא אַדְמוֹנִי עִם־יְפֵה עֵינַיִם וְטוֹב רֹאִיפ וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה קוּם מְשָׁחֵהוּ כִּֽי־זֶה הֽוּא׃ — And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of beautiful eyes, and goodly to look upon. And the LORD said: 'Arise, anoint him; for this is he.' - [16:13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.13/) — וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת־קֶרֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן וַיִּמְשַׁח אֹתוֹ בְּקֶרֶב אֶחָיו וַתִּצְלַח רֽוּחַ־יְהוָה אֶל־דָּוִד מֵהַיּוֹם הַהוּא וָמָעְלָה וַיָּקָם שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃ס — Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. - [16:14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.14/) — וְרוּחַ יְהוָה סָרָה מֵעִם שָׁאוּל וּבִֽעֲתַתּוּ רֽוּחַ־רָעָה מֵאֵת יְהוָֽה׃ — Now the spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him. - [16:15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.15/) — וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁאוּל אֵלָיו הִנֵּה־נָא רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים רָעָה מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃ — And Saul's servants said unto him: 'Behold now, an evil spirit from God terrifieth thee. - [16:16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.16/) — יֹאמַר־נָא אֲדֹנֵנוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ יְבַקְשׁוּ אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן בַּכִּנּוֹר וְהָיָה בִּֽהְיוֹת עָלֶיךָ רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים רָעָה וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְטוֹב לָֽךְ׃פ — Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp; and it shall be, when the evil spirit from God cometh upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.' - [16:17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.17/) — וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל־עֲבָדָיו רְאוּ־נָא לִי אִישׁ מֵיטִיב לְנַגֵּן וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶם אֵלָֽי׃ — And Saul said unto his servants: 'Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.' - [16:18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.18/) — וַיַּעַן אֶחָד מֵהַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה רָאִיתִי בֵּן לְיִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי יֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן וְגִבּוֹר חַיִל וְאִישׁ מִלְחָמָה וּנְבוֹן דָּבָר וְאִישׁ תֹּאַר וַיהוָה עִמּֽוֹ׃ — Then answered one of the young men, and said: 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in affairs, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.' - [16:19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.19/) — וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל מַלְאָכִים אֶל־יִשָׁי וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁלְחָה אֵלַי אֶת־דָּוִד בִּנְךָ אֲשֶׁר בַּצֹּֽאן׃ — Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said: 'Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.' - [16:20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.20/) — וַיִּקַּח יִשַׁי חֲמוֹר לֶחֶם וְנֹאד יַיִן וּגְדִי עִזִּים אֶחָד וַיִּשְׁלַח בְּיַד־דָּוִד בְּנוֹ אֶל־שָׁאֽוּל׃ — 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. - [16:21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.21/) — וַיָּבֹא דָוִד אֶל־שָׁאוּל וַֽיַּעֲמֹד לְפָנָיו וַיֶּאֱהָבֵהֽוּ מְאֹד וַֽיְהִי־לוֹ נֹשֵׂא כֵלִֽים׃ — And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. - [16:22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.22/) — וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל אֶל־יִשַׁי לֵאמֹר יַעֲמָד־נָא דָוִד לְפָנַי כִּֽי־מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינָֽי׃ — And Saul sent to Jesse, saying: 'Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.' - [16:23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA.16.23/) — וְהָיָה בִּֽהְיוֹת רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים אֶל־שָׁאוּל וְלָקַח דָּוִד אֶת־הַכִּנּוֹר וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְרָוַח לְשָׁאוּל וְטוֹב לוֹ וְסָרָה מֵעָלָיו רוּחַ הָרָעָֽה׃פ — And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; so Saul found relief, and it was well with him, and the evil spirit departed from him. - ← previous: [1 Samuel 15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA/15/) - next →: [1 Samuel 17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA/17/) - ↑ back to [1 Samuel](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/1SA/)