1 Samuel 16
1 Samuel 16 records the anointing of David as king while still a shepherd boy — and God's famous correction of Samuel: the Lord looks not on outward appearance but on the heart.
The Book of 1 Samuel · Old Testament · chapter 16 of 31.
Where this chapter sits
Saul still occupies the throne when this scene opens, his rejection as king already pronounced in the previous chapter over disobedience regarding the Amalekites. Samuel travels to Bethlehem grieving and wary of Saul's reaction, anointing David privately within Jesse's household while the boy still tends sheep. The same chapter closes with David entering Saul's court as a musician, one of two ways the book introduces him to the king.
Key verses (KJV)
“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
Watch the parade of brothers pass before Samuel, each one plausible, each one turned down, before anyone thinks to send for the youngest, still out with the flock. The delay itself makes the point stated earlier in the chapter, that outward stature was never the measure being used.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does 1 Samuel 16 come in 1 Samuel?
It is chapter 16 of 31 in 1 Samuel, a book of History in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of 1 Samuel are linked further down this page.
Where can I read 1 Samuel 16?
Read the full text of 1 Samuel 16 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.