People of the Bible · Tribe of Judah

Jesse, son of Obed

The name Jesse means “gift; oblation; one who is.” Jesse is mentioned in 44 verses of the Bible, first in Ruth 4:17.

Family of Jesse

Father

Children

Who was Jesse?

Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22; Matt. 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David (1 Sam. 17:12). The phrase “stem of Jesse” is used for the family of David (Isa. 11:1), and “root of Jesse” for the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rev. 5:5). Jesse was a man apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem (1 Sam. 17:17, 18, 20; Ps. 78:71). The last reference to him is of David’s procuring for him an asylum with the king of Moab (1 Sam. 22:3).

Biography adapted from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain, linked via Theographic Bible Metadata.

Key verses about Jesse

  • Ruth 4:17

    And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

  • 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.

  • 1 Chronicles 10:14

    And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

  • Matthew 1:5

    And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

  • Acts 13:22

    And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

All 44 verses mentioning Jesse