1 Samuel 16:6 nasb — When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."

NASB

"When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him.""

— 1 Samuel 16:6, NASB

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1 Samuel 16:6 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 16 — Context

3

"You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."

4

So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?"

5

He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6

When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."

7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

8

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

9

Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

1 Samuel 16:6 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 16:6 say?
1 Samuel 16:6 in the NASB reads: “When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."”
Where is 1 Samuel 16:6 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 16:6 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 6.
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 16:6.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 16:6 in?
1 Samuel 16:6 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 16:6?
1 Samuel 16:6 reads (NASB): “When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."” 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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