Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.”
- KJV And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
- BSB Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
- NASB So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.”
- NLT Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul asks Jesse to let David remain, for he has found favor with him. David's place in the royal household is secured.
Overview
Saul's request to keep David shows the favor and usefulness David has gained at court. This establishes David's ongoing presence near the throne, where his character and gifts will be tested and displayed. The arrangement furthers God's quiet preparation of his anointed king.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 16:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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