דָּוִד (da.vid)
da.vid
David
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 777 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name David means beloved, a title that fits the youngest son of Jesse who rose to become Israel’s second king. The Hebrew sources trace this proper noun to a root meaning loving or dear one, establishing his identity not by royal lineage but by affection. He appears nearly eight hundred times in Scripture, with the bulk of references found in Samuel and Chronicles, where his life story unfolds from shepherd boy to monarch.
His significance extends beyond his historical reign. The texts frequently use his name as a shorthand for the ideal ruler or the messianic hope. Phrases like "the house of David" refer to his royal lineage, while "the city of David" identifies Jerusalem’s earliest fortified section. Prophets such as Ezekiel and Hosea look forward to a future leader described as "my servant David," linking the historical king to a coming age of peace.
Translators consistently render this name as David across all languages, preserving its recognizability. The biblical narrative presents him as a complex figure—skilled in warfare, a poet of the Psalms, and a man who faced significant moral failures. His legacy remains central to Jewish and Christian understandings of kingship and divine promise.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name David means beloved. It is a simple word that carries deep weight in Scripture. This king was not chosen for his strength or status, but because he was dear to God. His life shows us that being loved by the Creator matters more than human approval.
When David faced Goliath, he did not rely on Saul’s armor. He trusted in the God who had protected him from lions and bears. This story invites us to bring our own fears to God. We do not need to be perfect or powerful to stand firm. We only need to remember who loves us.
Christians see David as a pointer to Jesus, the true King. The promise made to David finds its full meaning in Christ. This connection gives hope that God’s love endures through every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 777 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- David783×
- to/ David56×
- and/ David40×
- for/ David9×
- like/ David8×
- of/ David7×
- in/ David6×
- [is] David4×
- [belonged] to/ David4×
- <in>/ David3×
- against/ David2×
- O David2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָּוִ֔ד71×
- דָּוִד֙60×
- דָּוִ֑ד50×
- דָּוִ֖ד49×
- דָּוִ֗ד35×
- דָּוִ֛ד33×
- דָּוִ֣ד29×
- דָּוִיד֙27×
- דָּוִ֔יד27×
- דָּוִ֜ד26×
- דָּוִ֣יד24×
- דָּוִ֑יד23×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 16:13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
This verse marks the moment the Spirit comes on David, showing his leadership is rooted in divine empowerment rather than human ambition.
-
I Samuel 17:37
David said, “Yahweh, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! Yahweh will be with you.”
David’s confidence here rests entirely on God’s past faithfulness, demonstrating that trust in Yahweh is the foundation of courage.
-
Ruth 4:22
and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.
This genealogical link places David in the line of Ruth and Boaz, highlighting how God works through ordinary family lines to fulfill His purposes.