1 Samuel 16:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

Sh'mu'el did what ADONAI said and arrived at Beit-Lechem. The leaders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, "Are you coming in peace?"

Berean Standard Bible:

So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

American Standard Version:

And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Samuel^{H8050} did^{H6213} that which the LORD^{H3068} spake^{H1696}, and came^{H935} to Bethlehem^{H1035}. And the elders^{H2205} of the town^{H5892} trembled^{H2729} at his coming^{H7125}, and said^{H559}, Comest^{H935} thou peaceably^{H7965}?

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 16:4

1 Samuel 16:4 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Old Testament, marking a significant transition in the leadership of Israel. The historical context is set during a time of political and spiritual turmoil, as the prophet Samuel is tasked by God to anoint a new king over Israel, following the rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience.

The verse captures the moment when Samuel arrives in Bethlehem, a small town in Judah, to carry out God's command. The text highlights the apprehension of the town's elders upon Samuel's arrival, as they are aware of his role as a prophet and judge over Israel. Their question, "Comest thou peaceably?" reflects their anxiety, likely stemming from the understanding that Samuel's presence could signify divine judgment or a significant change, given his authority and the historical precedent of his pronouncements.

The themes present in this verse include divine authority and human apprehension, the transition of power, and the fear of the Lord associated with the arrival of a man of God. It also sets the stage for the anointing of David, which will follow shortly, illustrating God's choice of a humble shepherd to become the future king of Israel, a decision that underscores the biblical motif of God's preference for the unlikely and the humble over the powerful and the proud. This event is foundational in understanding the Davidic lineage, which holds great theological significance in Judeo-Christian tradition, as it ultimately leads to the line of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8050
   There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁמוּאֵל
   Transliteration: Shᵉmûwʼêl
   Pronunciation: sehm-oo-ale'
   Description: from the passive participle of שָׁמַע and אֵל; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites; Samuel, Shemuel.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
5. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1035
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּית לֶחֶם
   Transliteration: Bêyth Lechem
   Pronunciation: bayth leh'-khem
   Description: from בַּיִת and לֶחֶם; house of bread; Beth-Lechem, a place in Palestine; Bethlehem.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2205
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָקֵן
   Transliteration: zâqên
   Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
   Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2729
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָרַד
   Transliteration: chârad
   Pronunciation: khaw-rad'
   Description: a primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety); be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7125
    There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קִרְאָה
    Transliteration: qirʼâh
    Pronunciation: keer-aw'
    Description: from קָרָא; an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite); [idiom] against (he come), help, meet, seek, [idiom] to, [idiom] in the way.
    
11. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7965
    There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלוֹם
    Transliteration: shâlôwm
    Pronunciation: shaw-lome'
    Description: or שָׁלֹם; from שָׁלַם; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace; [idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] wholly.