1 Samuel 16:1
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
5 of 29
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מָתַי֙
H4970
מָתַי֙
Strong's:
H4970
Word #:
6 of 29
properly, extent (of time); but used only adverbially (especially with other particle prefixes), when (either relative or interrogative)
מְאַסְתִּ֔יו
seeing I have rejected
H3988
מְאַסְתִּ֔יו
seeing I have rejected
Strong's:
H3988
Word #:
12 of 29
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ
him from reigning
H4427
מִמְּלֹ֖ךְ
him from reigning
Strong's:
H4427
Word #:
13 of 29
to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 29
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
over Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
over Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
15 of 29
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מַלֵּ֨א
fill
H4390
מַלֵּ֨א
fill
Strong's:
H4390
Word #:
16 of 29
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
קַרְנְךָ֜
thine horn
H7161
קַרְנְךָ֜
thine horn
Strong's:
H7161
Word #:
17 of 29
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e., ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a moun
שֶׁ֗מֶן
with oil
H8081
שֶׁ֗מֶן
with oil
Strong's:
H8081
Word #:
18 of 29
grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
וְלֵ֤ךְ
H1980
וְלֵ֤ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
19 of 29
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙
I will send
H7971
אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙
I will send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
20 of 29
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
הַלַּחְמִ֔י
the Bethlehemite
H1022
הַלַּחְמִ֔י
the Bethlehemite
Strong's:
H1022
Word #:
24 of 29
a beth-lechemite, or native of bethlechem
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
25 of 29
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
רָאִ֧יתִי
for I have provided
H7200
רָאִ֧יתִי
for I have provided
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
26 of 29
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
2 Kings 9:1And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead:1 Samuel 15:23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?1 Samuel 15:35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.1 Samuel 16:15And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.Romans 15:12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.1 Samuel 9:16To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.1 Samuel 15:26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.2 Kings 9:6And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.1 Samuel 15:11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
Historical Context
Samuel's journey to Bethlehem (c. 1025 BCE) occurred during Saul's declining reign. The prophet school at Ramah had become Samuel's base of operations. Bethlehem, though small, held significance as the burial place of Rachel and ancestral home of the tribe of Judah.
Questions for Reflection
- When has God called you to move forward from a situation you were grieving or mourning?
- How does God's sovereign provision of David encourage you to trust His timing in raising up leaders?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
God's rebuke of Samuel's prolonged mourning reveals the divine imperative to move forward when God has spoken. The Hebrew male' (fill) indicates complete consecration for a sacred task. Bethlehem emerges as the unlikely source of Israel's greatest king, foreshadowing its role as the birthplace of the Messiah. God's declaration 'I have provided me a king' uses the verb ra'ah (to see/provide), connecting to Abraham's naming of Moriah. Divine election operates independently of human merit or expectation.