I Samuel 17:55-58 · Bible study
1 Samuel 17:55-58 Commentary: Whose Son Is This Youth? A Study
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Saul ask whose son David is when David had already served in his court? This study explores the text, history, and theology of this puzzling passage.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The passage underscores David's lineage and God's choice of an overlooked youth.
- Key words: 'Whose son' (ben mi), youth (na'ar), head (rosh), servant (eved), Bethlehemite (bet hallachmi).
- Main debate: Whether Saul's ignorance is historical, textual, or literary.
- Thological theme: God elevates the humble; true identity comes from God's calling.
- Best use: A narrative bridge reinforcing David's anointed status and foreshadowing the Davidic covenant.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
55As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”
56“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.
57So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul.
58“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.
WEB World English Bible 2000
55When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.”
56The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is!”
57As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
KJV King James Version 1769
55And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth–lehemite.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
55And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
55And when Saul seeth David going out to meet the Philistine, he hath said unto Abner, head of the host, `Whose son is this--the youth, Abner?' and Abner saith, `Thy soul liveth, O king, I have not known.'
56And the king saith, `Ask thou whose son this is --the young man.'
57And when David turneth back from smiting the Philistine, then Abner taketh him and bringeth him in before Saul, and the head of the Philistine in his hand;
58and Saul saith unto him, `Whose son art thou, O youth?' and David saith, `Son of thy servant Jesse, the Beth-Lehemite.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
55And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this young man? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56And the king said, Inquire thou whose son this youth is.
57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, young man? And David said, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
55Now at the time that Saul saw David going out against the Philistines, he said to Abner, the captain of the army: Of what family is this young man descended, Abner? And Abner said: As thy soul liveth, O king, I know not.
56And the king said: Inquire thou, whose son this young man is.
57And when David was returned, after the Philistine was slain, Abner took him, and brought him in before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58And Saul said to him: Young man, of what family art thou? And David said: I am the son of thy servant Isai the Bethlehemite.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 17:55
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions recognize a tension between this passage and earlier accounts of David's service in Saul's court (1 Samuel 16:18-23). Adam Clarke calls the discrepancy 'exceedingly strange.' The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the Septuagint omits these verses, raising questions about the passage's textual history. John Gill observes that Saul's repeated question may not imply ignorance of David's person but of his family, 'whose son' mattered more than the individual's name. John Wesley explains that David may have been gone from court long enough for his appearance to change. Keil & Delitzsch propose that the verbs in verses 55 and 56 function as pluperfects, placing the conversation during the fight itself. Despite these differences, all agree that the passage deliberately highlights David's humble origins as the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, a crucial detail for the narrative's unfolding theology of kingship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical lapse: David had been dismissed from court and matured; Saul's mental state may have contributed to forgetfulness.
- Textual insertion: The Septuagint omission suggests these verses may be a later addition to emphasize David's lineage.
- Narrative flashback: Keil and Delitzsch read the verbs as pluperfects, so the question happens during the fight, not after the victory.
What is clear: David is identified as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, affirming his humble origins as chosen by God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Saul's knowledge of David | There is an apparent contradiction with 1 Samuel 16:18-23 where David served in Saul's court. | Some explain it as a chronological gap (David had left court), others as Saul's mental illness, and some see textual interpolation. |
| Origin of the passage | The Hebrew Bible includes it; some Greek manuscripts omit it. | Catholics and Orthodox follow the longer Greek tradition in the Septuagint, which may omit these verses; Protestants generally follow the Masoretic Text which includes them. |
| Purpose of the question | The question highlights David's family origin. | Some see it as a literary device to introduce David's lineage, others as a historical conversation reordered in the narrative. |
| Meaning of 'youth' and 'stripling' | The Hebrew words na'ar and elem both refer to a young man. | Whether they imply a servant or simply a youth, and whether David's age at this point matters for the narrative. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, a person's identity was tied to their father's name and clan. The question 'whose son is this youth?' (Hebrew ben mi) was standard for placing someone within the tribal system of inheritance and responsibility. David's answer, 'the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite', anchors him in Bethlehem of Judah, a small town with deep significance for Israel's future hope.
Abner, the commander of the army, was Saul's cousin and a powerful figure. His ignorance of David is plausible: David had served as a court musician and occasional armor-bearer, not as a soldier in Abner's ranks. The military camp and the court were separate spheres. David's brothers were in the army (1 Samuel 17:13), but David himself was not.
The scene occurs as David returns from killing Goliath, still holding the giant's head. This gory trophy is both proof of victory and a sign of divine favor. The head of Goliath later appears in Jerusalem (1 Samuel 17:54), a detail that anticipates David's future capital. The repeated question, Saul asks three times, emphasizes that David's family identity is central to the story.
Some scholars, including Keil and Delitzsch, read the Hebrew verbs in verses 55 and 56 as pluperfects, suggesting the conversation happened while David fought, not after. This reading eases the chronological awkwardness: Saul sees the youth go out, asks Abner, and then later meets the victorious young man. Whether historical ordering or literary flashback, the narrative's purpose is clear: to introduce David as the son of Jesse, a family God has chosen to lead Israel.
Textual Notes
The Septuagint (Codex Vaticanus) omits verses 55-58 of this chapter. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes this omission, and Adam Clarke spends considerable space discussing the possibility of interpolation. The Masoretic Text and most English versions include the passage. Some scholars, including Keil and Delitzsch, propose reading the Hebrew verbs in verses 55 and 56 as pluperfects, placing the conversation during the fight rather than after. This grammatical reading eases the chronological tension without removing the verses.
Reception History
In the early church, the shorter Greek version of 1 Samuel 17 (omitting these verses) was widely used. By the time of the Reformation, the Latin Vulgate included the longer text. Commentators such as Matthew Henry and John Wesley addressed the difficulty by suggesting that David's absence from court and changes in appearance explained Saul's question. Later Reformed scholars like Keil and Delitzsch offered a grammatical solution (the pluperfect). Throughout history, this passage has challenged readers to reconcile details, but it has consistently been used to highlight God's choice of a humble shepherd as Israel's king.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A King Who Does Not Recognize (v55-56): Even Saul, the anointed king, cannot identify God's chosen servant. Human perception is limited. The world often overlooks those God has selected.
- Victory That Demands an Introduction (v57): David approaches Saul with the evidence of God's power. The head of Goliath forces a reckoning. God's work is its own credential.
- Humility That Defines Greatness (v58): David answers simply: 'I am the son of your servant Jesse.' He does not boast of his battle. He names his place in God's story, a servant's son from a small town.
Five-point outline
- Saul sees David go out to fight and asks Abner whose son he is (v55).
- Abner cannot answer; Saul insists on an inquiry (v56).
- David returns from the slaughter, carrying the Philistine's head (v57).
- Abner brings David before Saul (v57).
- Saul asks David directly; David answers with his family lineage (v58).
Illustration hooks
- Have you ever met someone important and later failed to recognize them? A changed context can blind us to what we once knew.
- Think of a young person who accomplished something remarkable and suddenly everyone wanted to know their family background. God often works through the overlooked.
- David's answer, 'the son of your servant Jesse', is like a resume with one line: humble origins, ready to serve.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does this story matter today? It shows that God chooses people the world overlooks.
- Did Saul really not know David? The differing explanations show that faithful readers can disagree on details while agreeing on the main point.
- What does this passage teach about identity? Our true identity is not in how others see us but in God's calling.
Leading a Discussion
This passage puzzles readers because it seems to contradict earlier accounts of David serving in Saul's court. That tension invites us to look deeper at how identity is revealed in the biblical story. Use these questions to guide your group from observation to application.
Discussion questions
- What does Saul ask, and how many times does he ask it? Who does he ask? (v55-56)
- What does David bring with him when he comes before Saul? (v57) How does this shape the scene?
- Why do you think the writer includes this conversation even if it seems out of place chronologically?
- What does David's choice to call himself 'the son of your servant' tell you about his attitude after defeating Goliath?
- How does knowing your own identity in God's plan help you face challenges or recognition?
- In what ways can we be like Saul, missing what God is doing because we focus on appearances?
- How does this passage point forward to Jesus, the Son of David, who also came from humble beginnings?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 16:21 | David came to Saul and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. |
| I Samuel 16:22 | Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” |
| I Samuel 17:54 | David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. |
| I Samuel 16:18 | Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.” |
| I Samuel 16:19 | Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” |
| I Samuel 17:12 | Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons. The man was an elderly old man in the days of Saul. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke finds it baffling that Saul would not know David's father, given their earlier interactions. He doubts that chronological adjustments can resolve this and instead suggests the text may have been altered, pointing to an ancient version of the Septuagint that lacks the confusing verses.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Whose son ... - See the marginal reference note.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the English word "stripling" describes David as a youth cut from the parent stem, but the underlying Hebrew word actually means a fully grown young man. This suggests a subtle difference between the translation's implication of immaturity and the original text's indication of maturity.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill resolves the apparent difficulty of Saul not recognizing David by arguing the king's question was not about David's person but about his family lineage. Saul had already known David personally, but he needed to learn David's father's name and family background, which had slipped his memory over time and amid court business.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes two reasons Saul failed to recognize David: Eastern custom identified a young man more by his father's name than his own, and David had grown from the boy minstrel into a full-grown man with a beard, making him unrecognizable.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that Saul's question about David's father does not show he forgot who David was. Rather, Saul wanted to know the social standing of David's family, which both he and Abner had not yet learned. The conversation was later repeated and expanded after the battle, but the details were omitted because they had no lasting consequences.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the contrast in how the two champions approach the fight. The Philistine advances with slow, deliberate dignity, putting on a show of grandeur even against a smaller opponent. David, by contrast, runs quickly toward the enemy, showing eager faith rather than ceremony.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that Saul's failure to recognize David after Goliath's death is more understandable than it first appears. Saul's mental distress had made him forgetful, and David's appearance had changed since leaving court. Abner, rarely at court when David was present, had little reason to notice someone so beneath his rank.