Bible Strands
1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator pauses the battle narrative to introduce David’s family background immediately after Saul’s fear and before listing his three older sons.
The words — אֶפְרָתִי ('ef.ra.Ti) translates "an Ephrathite," and מִ/בֵּ֥ית לֶ֙חֶם (mi./Beit le.chem) means "from Bethlehem," anchoring Jesse’s household in Judah.
The thread — This pairing echoes Genesis 35:19, which equates Ephrath with Bethlehem, while 1 Samuel 16:10 and 16:18 previously documented Jesse’s lineage and David’s origin.
Why it lands — The text establishes David’s age and geographic origin before the combat, requiring the reader to note how his family’s history intersects with Saul’s reign.
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
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth–lehem–judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
Cross-references
- Genesis 35:19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
- 1 Samuel 16:10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”
- 1 Samuel 16:18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
- Ruth 4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.
- 1 Samuel 17:58 “Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.
- 1 Chronicles 2:13 Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
- Matthew 1:6 and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
- Matthew 2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”
- Luke 3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,