1 Samuel 16:19 akjv — Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep.

American King James Version

"Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep. "

— 1 Samuel 16:19, American King James Version

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1 Samuel 16:19 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 16 — Context

16

Let our lord now command your servants, which are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.

17

And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. ¶

19

Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep.

20

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

21

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

22

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.

1 Samuel 16:19 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 16:19 say?
1 Samuel 16:19 in the American King James Version reads: “Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep. ”
Where is 1 Samuel 16:19 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 16:19 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 19.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 16:19.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 16:19 in?
1 Samuel 16:19 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 16:19?
1 Samuel 16:19 reads (AKJV): “Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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