1 Samuel 16 · Verse 12

1 Samuel 16:12

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
1 Samuel 16:12, King James Version

1 Samuel 16:12 in other translations

BSBSo Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
WEBHe sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”
ASVAnd he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
YLTAnd he sendeth, and bringeth him in, and he is ruddy, with beauty of eyes, and of good appearance; and Jehovah saith, ‘Rise, anoint him, for this is he.'
DARBYAnd he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
BBESo he sent and made him come in. Now he had red hair and beautiful eyes and pleasing looks. And the Lord said, Come, put the oil on him, for this is he.
WebsterAnd he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and also of a beautiful countenance, and a good appearance. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

What does 1 Samuel 16:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. he was ruddy, &c.--Josephus says that David was ten, while most modern commentators are of the opinion that he must have been fifteen years of age.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 He was ruddy - I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin and florid complexion.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 16:6-13

It was strange that Samuel, who had been so disappointed in Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should judge of another man by that rule. We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 16:6-13 →

1 Samuel 16:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.Lachand he sentH7971
וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙vay.vi.'E.huand he brought himH935
וְה֣וּאve.Hu'and heH1931
אַדְמוֹנִ֔י'ad.mo.Ni[was] redH132
עִם\־'im-withH5973
יְפֵ֥הye.Pehbeautiful ofH3303
עֵינַ֖יִם'ei.Na.yimeyesH5869
וְט֣וֹבve.Tovand good ofH2896
רֹ֑אִי\ \פRo.'iappearanceH7210
וַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
ק֥וּםkumariseH6965
מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּme.sha.Che.huanoint himH4886
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
זֶ֥הzehthisH2088
הֽוּא\׃Hu'[is] heH1931

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 16:12

  • Song of Solomon 5:10

    My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

  • Lamentations 4:7

    Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:

  • 1 Samuel 17:42

    And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

  • Psalms 89:19-20

    Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

  • 1 Samuel 9:17

    And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

  • Acts 7:20

    In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:

  • Acts 4:27

    For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

  • Genesis 39:6

    And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

  • Psalms 2:6

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  • Hebrews 11:23

    By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ruddy.
17:42; So 5:10; La 4:7; Ac 7:20; Heb 11:23
of a beautiful countenance. Heb. fair of eyes.
7
And the Lord.
9:17
anoint him.
Ps 2:2,6; 89:19,20; Ac 4:27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 16:11

    And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

  • 1 Samuel 16:12

    And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

  • 1 Samuel 16:13

    Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Read all of 1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Envió pues por él, é introdújolo; el cual era rubio, de hermoso parecer y de bello aspecto. Entonces Jehová dijo: Levántate y úngelo, que éste es.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il envoya et le fit venir. Or il avait le teint rosé, avec de beaux yeux, et était beau de visage. Et l’ Éternel dit: Lève-toi, oins-le; car c’est celui-là.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sandte hin und ließ ihn kommen; und er war rötlich, dazu schön von Augen und von gutem Ansehen. Und Jehova sprach: Auf, salbe ihn! denn dieser ist es.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Misit ergo, et adduxit eum. Erat autem rufus, et pulcher aspectu, decoraque facie: et ait Dominus: Surge, unge eum: ipse est enim.