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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Samuel 16 :: New International Version (NIV)

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Samuel Anoints David

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:1 - The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:2 - But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:3 - Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:4 - Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:5 - Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:6 - When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:8 - Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:9 - Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:10 - Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:11 - So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:12 - So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:13 - So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:14 - Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil[fn] spirit from the LORD tormented him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:15 - Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:16 - Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:17 - So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:18 - One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:19 - Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:20 - 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:21 - David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:22 - Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 16:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 16:23 - Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NIV Footnotes
Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23
NIV

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

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1 Samuel Chapter 16 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras