Bible Strands
1 Samuel 16:12
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Samuel commands Jesse to summon his youngest son, who arrives while tending sheep. The Lord then speaks to Samuel, directing him to rise and anoint the youth as the chosen king.
The words — אַדְמוֹנִי ('ad.mo.Ni) literally means red or ruddy, and עִם־יְפֵה עֵינַיִם ('im-ye.Peh 'ei.Na.yim) denotes having beautiful eyes. These terms describe the boy’s physical appearance without theological commentary.
The thread — The phrase describing a ruddy, handsome figure appears in Song of Solomon 5:10, Lamentations 4:7, and 1 Samuel 17:42, where it consistently marks a person of striking outward appearance.
Why it lands — The text records God’s direct selection of the youngest son despite his age and shepherd status, requiring the reader to accept divine choice over human ranking.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Song of Solomon 5:10 My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
- Lamentations 4:7 Her dignitaries were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like sapphires.
- 1 Samuel 17:42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him because he was just a boy, ruddy and handsome.
- 1 Samuel 9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”
- Psalms 89:19 You once spoke in a vision; to Your godly ones You said, “I have bestowed help on a warrior; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
- Genesis 39:6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
- Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
- Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Acts 7:20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house.
- Psalms 2:6 “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”