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Jesse

Portrait of Jesse

Jesse was a Bethlehemite of the tribe of Judah, grandson of Boaz and Ruth, and the father of eight sons - the youngest of whom was David. When Samuel came to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, Jesse presented his sons one by one until God chose David, the shepherd. Isaiah later prophesied that the Messiah would come as 'a rod out of the stem of Jesse,' making his name a title of hope for the coming King.

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Biography

Occupation
Landowner, Shepherd
Tribe
Judah
Father
Obed
Children
David and seven other sons
Era
United Kingdom

Family

Parents
โ†“
Jesse
โ†“
Children
David and seven other sons
Old Testament 1 Samuel United Kingdom

Did You Know?

1

Isaiah's prophecy that a shoot would grow 'out of the stem of Jesse' (Isaiah 11:1) turned Jesse's name into a messianic title, which is why medieval art depicts the family tree of Christ as a 'Tree of Jesse' springing from his side.

2

When Samuel came to anoint a king, Jesse paraded seven sons before the prophet and did not even bother to summon David from the fields - a vivid illustration of the chapter's lesson that 'man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart' (1 Samuel 16:7).

3

Jesse was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth, meaning David's royal line ran directly through a Moabite convert - a striking inclusion of a foreigner in Israel's greatest dynasty.

Key Chapters

Key Passages

Jesse's Sons Before Samuel

1 Samuel 16:1-13

God sends Samuel to Jesse's house, passing over the elder sons to anoint young David - 'the LORD looketh on the heart.'

A1nd 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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORDโ€™s anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 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. 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. 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 full chapter: 1 Samuel 16 โ†’

The Rod out of Jesse

Isaiah 11:1-5

Isaiah foretells that the Messiah will spring from the stem of Jesse, endowed with the Spirit of the LORD.

A1nd there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Read full chapter: Isaiah 11 โ†’