1 samuel 16:6 - When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.”
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What does "1 samuel 16:6" mean?
This verse is a key moment in the story of Samuel anointing David as the future king of Israel. Let's break it down:
"When they had come...": This refers to Jesse, David's father, and his sons. Samuel, a prophet and judge, had been sent by God to Jesse's house in Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel. King Saul had disobeyed God, and therefore God had rejected him as king.
"he looked at Eliab...": Eliab was Jesse's eldest son.
"and said, 'Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him.'": Samuel saw Eliab, who likely appeared kingly and impressive (tall, strong, handsome, etc.), and assumed that this must be the one God had chosen. "Yahweh's anointed" is a reference to the person God has chosen to be king. Anointing was a symbolic act of setting someone apart for a holy purpose, in this case, the kingship.
In essence, Samuel made a snap judgment based on outward appearance. He believed that the person God had chosen to be king would look like a typical, powerful ruler. This is a very human reaction and highlights the contrast between human perception and God's wisdom.
The significance of this verse lies in what happens next. God immediately corrects Samuel (verse 7), saying, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." This is a crucial theological point: God's criteria for leadership are based on inner qualities like faithfulness, humility, and obedience, rather than outward appearance or social status.
This moment sets the stage for the arrival of David, the youngest and seemingly least impressive of Jesse's sons, who God has already chosen. David is not the obvious choice, highlighting that God often chooses the unexpected and the humble to accomplish great things.
1 samuel 16:6 - When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.”
What does "1 samuel 16:6" mean?
This verse is a key moment in the story of Samuel anointing David as the future king of Israel. Let's break it down:
"When they had come...": This refers to Jesse, David's father, and his sons. Samuel, a prophet and judge, had been sent by God to Jesse's house in Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel. King Saul had disobeyed God, and therefore God had rejected him as king.
"he looked at Eliab...": Eliab was Jesse's eldest son.
"and said, 'Surely Yahweh's anointed is before him.'": Samuel saw Eliab, who likely appeared kingly and impressive (tall, strong, handsome, etc.), and assumed that this must be the one God had chosen. "Yahweh's anointed" is a reference to the person God has chosen to be king. Anointing was a symbolic act of setting someone apart for a holy purpose, in this case, the kingship.
In essence, Samuel made a snap judgment based on outward appearance. He believed that the person God had chosen to be king would look like a typical, powerful ruler. This is a very human reaction and highlights the contrast between human perception and God's wisdom.
The significance of this verse lies in what happens next. God immediately corrects Samuel (verse 7), saying, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." This is a crucial theological point: God's criteria for leadership are based on inner qualities like faithfulness, humility, and obedience, rather than outward appearance or social status.
This moment sets the stage for the arrival of David, the youngest and seemingly least impressive of Jesse's sons, who God has already chosen. David is not the obvious choice, highlighting that God often chooses the unexpected and the humble to accomplish great things.