King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 16:11 Mean?

1 Samuel 16:11 in the King James Version says “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he ke... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. down: Heb. round

1 Samuel 16:11 · KJV


Context

9

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

10

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

11

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. down: Heb. round

12

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. of a: Heb. fair of eyes

13

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

David's absence from the ceremony reveals his marginal status within his own family - assigned to menial labor while his brothers participated in sacred rituals. The Hebrew qatan (youngest/smallest) emphasizes both age and social standing. Samuel's insistence 'we will not sit down till he come hither' introduced urgency and elevated the overlooked son to center stage. God's pattern of choosing the least likely candidate - Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau - reaches its clearest expression.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Shepherding, while essential, was considered lowly work often assigned to youngest sons or hired servants. The sheep's isolation in wilderness areas meant extended absence from family and community life. David's separation from the sacrificial gathering may reflect his status as an afterthought in family affairs.

Reflection Questions

  1. Who in your community might be overlooked for significant service despite genuine faithfulness?
  2. How does David's initial exclusion encourage those who feel marginalized or undervalued?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 25

And he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל2 of 25

And Samuel

H8050

shemuel, the name of three israelites

אֶל3 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִשַׁי֙4 of 25

unto Jesse

H3448

jishai, david's father

הֲתַ֣מּוּ5 of 25

Are here all

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

הַנְּעָרִים֒6 of 25

thy children

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר7 of 25

And he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

ע֚וֹד8 of 25
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

שָׁאַ֣ר9 of 25

There remaineth

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

הַקָּטָ֔ן10 of 25

yet the youngest

H6996

abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)

וְהִנֵּ֥ה11 of 25
H2009

lo!

רֹעֶ֖ה12 of 25

and behold he keepeth

H7462

to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie

בַּצֹּ֑אן13 of 25

the sheep

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר14 of 25

And he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל15 of 25

And Samuel

H8050

shemuel, the name of three israelites

אֶל16 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִשַׁי֙17 of 25

unto Jesse

H3448

jishai, david's father

שִׁלְחָ֣ה18 of 25

Send

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

וְקָחֶ֔נּוּ19 of 25

and fetch

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

כִּ֥י20 of 25
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לֹֽא21 of 25
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נָסֹ֖ב22 of 25

him for we will not sit down

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

עַד23 of 25
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

בֹּא֥וֹ24 of 25

till he come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

פֹֽה׃25 of 25

hither

H6311

this place (french ici), i.e., here or hence


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 16:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 16:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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