meetBible › Old and New Testament

Jesse

He brought out seven sons for Samuel, and almost forgot the youngest.

Old and New Testament · c. 1050 BC · Ruth, 1 Samuel, Isaiah, Romans · Also known as Jesse the Bethlehemite, Father of David

About Jesse

Jesse was a man of Bethlehem, the grandson of Boaz and Ruth, and the father of eight sons. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint a new king, Jesse presented seven sons, and the LORD chose none of them. Only when Samuel asked, "Are here all thy children?" did Jesse mention the youngest, out keeping the sheep. That boy was David. Jesse later sent David with gifts to King Saul, and with food to his brothers at the battle with Goliath. Isaiah promised a new king from "the stem of Jesse," words Christians apply to Jesus.

Isaiah 11:1 speaks of "a rod out of the stem of Jesse," and Paul quotes it of Jesus (Romans 15:12). The tradition of the "Jesse tree," tracing Jesus’ family line through Advent, comes from these verses.

The story

Sanctify yourselves

God sent Samuel to Bethlehem: "I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons." Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice.

1 Samuel 16:1-5

Are here all thy children?

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. "The LORD hath not chosen these," said Samuel. "Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep." They sent for David, and the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he."

1 Samuel 16:6-13

Bread for the brothers

When Jesse’s three eldest sons were with Saul’s army facing the Philistines, Jesse sent David: "Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren." That errand brought David face to face with Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:12-20

The stem of Jesse

When Saul hunted David, David took his father and mother to the king of Moab for safety. Centuries later Isaiah promised, "there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots," and Paul applied it to Jesus.

1 Samuel 22:3-4; Isaiah 11:1; Romans 15:12

Key moments

Questions about Jesse

In meetBible these answers are given in Jesse’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.

Why didn’t you call David at first?

When Samuel asked, "Are here all thy children?" I said, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep." Scripture doesn’t say why I left him out. Just before, God had told Samuel, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." Many read my answer as showing how little anyone expected of the youngest.

How many sons did you have?

1 Samuel says I "had eight sons." My eldest three, Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, served in Saul’s army; David was the youngest. 1 Chronicles lists seven sons and two daughters, Zeruiah and Abigail, so the lists differ slightly, and readers explain that in different ways.

What does "the root of Jesse" mean?

Isaiah promised, "there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots," a king from my family, full of the Spirit of the LORD. When David’s royal line looked like a cut-down tree, this was hope of new growth. Paul quotes it of Jesus: "There shall be a root of Jesse… in him shall the Gentiles trust."

Connected people

Read it yourself

Start with 1 Samuel 16–17.

Play Who am I? · See the big picture · Meet more people