1 Samuel 17:56

KJV

And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling [is].

KJV (with Strong's)

And the king {H4428} said {H559}, Enquire {H7592} thou whose son {H1121} the stripling {H5958} is.

Complete Jewish Bible

The king said, "Find out whose son this boy is.

Berean Standard Bible

“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.

American Standard Version

And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Immediately following David's astonishing victory over Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:56 captures King Saul's command to his commander Abner: "Enquire thou whose son the stripling [is]." This seemingly simple directive marks a pivotal moment, signaling the beginning of David's public recognition, his integration into the royal court, and the initial steps in the divine orchestration of his eventual rise from shepherd boy to the future king of Israel, a trajectory that would profoundly shape the nation's history and the lineage of the Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of the dramatic confrontation between David and Goliath. The preceding verses vividly describe the Philistine challenge, Israel's paralysis by fear, and David's audacious, faith-filled response, culminating in Goliath's swift defeat, as detailed in the account of [David's victory over Goliath](/1-samuel/17-48-51 "1 Samuel 17:48-51 - David's Victory Over Goliath"). The immediate context in [1 Samuel 17:55](/1-samuel/17-55 "1 Samuel 17:55 - Saul's Initial Inquiry") reveals Saul's initial inquiry about David's identity *before* the battle, suggesting a surprising lack of recognition despite David having already served in his court as a musician and armor-bearer, a fact recorded earlier in [1 Samuel 16:21](/1-samuel/16-21 "1 Samuel 16:21 - David's Service to Saul"). Verse 56 thus reiterates and formalizes this inquiry, setting the stage for David's formal introduction to Saul and the subsequent unfolding of his destiny within the royal household, leading to his eventual kingship.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, lineage and family identity were paramount. A person's "son of" designation was not merely a descriptor but a statement of their heritage, social standing, and often, their future prospects. Saul's question, "whose son the stripling [is]," reflects this cultural emphasis. It was a formal inquiry to understand the background of this extraordinary young man who had just saved the nation. Furthermore, the Philistine threat was a constant and existential danger to Israel during this period, making David's victory not just a personal triumph but a national deliverance. The king's immediate concern would be to reward the hero and potentially integrate him into the military or court, and knowing his family background was a crucial first step in that process. This inquiry was a standard procedure for assessing a person's suitability for royal service or reward.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [the book of 1 Samuel](/1-samuel/1 "The Book of 1 Samuel") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Empowerment Over Human Pedigree**. David's victory was not due to his family's status, military training, or physical prowess, but to God's anointing and power, as seen when [the Spirit of the Lord came upon David](/1-samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing by Samuel"). Saul's focus on "whose son" he is underscores the human tendency to value lineage and outward appearance, while God's choice demonstrates His preference for faithfulness and humility. Secondly, it underscores **Saul's Diminished Awareness and Spiritual Decline**. His inability to fully recognize David, despite their prior interactions, subtly points to his spiritual disconnect and perhaps a preoccupation with his own troubles, contrasting sharply with God's active working among His people. Finally, it introduces the theme of **God's Unexpected Choice and Exaltation of the Humble**, setting the stage for David's dramatic rise from obscurity to national prominence, a pattern seen repeatedly throughout biblical history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **King (Hebrew, _melek'_):** From H4428. This term refers to a monarch, the supreme ruler of a kingdom. In this context, it emphasizes Saul's position of authority and the weight of his command. His inquiry is not casual but a formal royal decree, underscoring the significance of David's actions and the king's need to understand the source of such unexpected power and deliverance.
* **Enquire (Hebrew, _shâʼal'_):** From H7592. This primitive root means "to inquire," "to request," or "to demand." It signifies a formal and earnest investigation. The fact that Saul, whose own name (Sha'ul) is derived from this root, meaning "asked for," is now "inquiring" about the divinely chosen David, adds a layer of profound **irony**. It highlights the contrast between the king Israel "asked for" and the one God truly chose and empowered, subtly foreshadowing the transfer of the kingdom.
* **Stripling (Hebrew, _ʻelem'_):** From H5958. This word denotes a young man or lad, often implying someone in the early stages of adulthood, perhaps still under parental authority or not yet fully established. Its use here emphasizes David's youth, small stature, and apparent lack of military experience, making his victory over the formidable Goliath even more astonishing. It highlights the stark contrast between David's outward appearance and the divine power at work through him, underscoring that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the king said":** This phrase establishes the authority behind the command. It is King Saul, the reigning monarch of Israel, who issues this directive. His words carry the weight of royal decree, initiating a formal process of investigation into David's background. This also highlights Saul's astonishment and the profound impact of David's victory on him personally and on the nation.
* **"Enquire thou":** This is a direct command to Abner, Saul's commander of the army. The imperative "enquire" signifies an urgent and formal investigation. It's not a casual question but an order to ascertain crucial information about the young hero who has just delivered Israel from its greatest threat. The king wants a full report, not just a name, but the full lineage.
* **"whose son the stripling [is]":** This is the core of Saul's inquiry, focusing on David's paternity and lineage. In a society where identity was deeply rooted in family, knowing "whose son" someone was provided immediate context for their social standing, tribal affiliation, and potential future. This question, particularly given David's prior service to Saul, underscores Saul's spiritual blindness and perhaps his preoccupation with his own troubles, preventing him from recognizing the man whom God had already anointed and brought into his presence.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Irony** and **Foreshadowing**. The **Irony** is multi-layered: Saul, whose own name means "asked for," is now asking about the identity of David, the one truly chosen by God, highlighting the contrast between human desire and divine election. Furthermore, it is ironic that Saul, who had David serving in his court, fails to recognize him fully, indicating his spiritual decline and perhaps a self-absorbed state that blinds him to God's work. This lack of recognition also serves as **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the future conflict between Saul and David. Saul's inquiry about David's lineage is also ironic because David's power comes not from his human lineage, but from his divine anointing, which Saul, the anointed king, has lost.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereign choice and His unconventional methods. It demonstrates that God's criteria for leadership and effectiveness are vastly different from human standards. While Saul and the nation focused on lineage, stature, and military experience, God looked upon the heart, as revealed in [1 Samuel 16:7](/1-samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart"). David's victory, and Saul's subsequent inquiry, serve as a divine declaration that God raises up whom He wills, often from the most unexpected places, to accomplish His purposes, thereby ensuring that the glory redounds to Him alone. This narrative thread reinforces the biblical principle that divine power is often manifested through human weakness, challenging human pride and self-reliance.

* [Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "Judges 7:2 - Gideon's Army Reduced")
* [Psalm 8:2](/psalms/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - God's Strength from Infants")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1-corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Foolish")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 17:56 reminds us that God's ways are often contrary to human expectations. We, like Saul, can be prone to judging by outward appearances, pedigree, or perceived qualifications. Yet, God consistently chooses the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly unqualified to accomplish His greatest works. This should be a profound encouragement to every believer: your background, your perceived weaknesses, or your lack of conventional credentials do not disqualify you from being used mightily by God. What matters is a heart devoted to Him, a willingness to step out in faith, and a reliance on His power rather than your own. Our true identity and worth are not found in our lineage or human achievements, but in being children of God, called and equipped by Him for His glory. This verse challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to recognize God's hand at work in unexpected places and through unexpected people, including ourselves, and to embrace the truth that our sufficiency is from Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to rely on human qualifications or expectations rather than God's power and choice?**
* **How does David's story, particularly Saul's inquiry about his identity, challenge my own preconceived notions of who God can use?**
* **What "stripling" moments or seemingly insignificant beginnings in my life might God be using to prepare me for greater purposes?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Saul not recognize David, despite David having served him previously?**

Answer: Saul's failure to fully recognize David, despite David having served in his court as a musician and armor-bearer, as noted in [1 Samuel 16:21](/1-samuel/16-21 "1 Samuel 16:21 - David's Prior Service to Saul"), is a point of significant theological and narrative interest. Several factors likely contribute to this. Firstly, David's role as a musician and occasional armor-bearer was likely a more informal, perhaps intermittent, position, not one that would necessarily make him a prominent figure in the king's inner circle or military command. Secondly, Saul's mental and spiritual state was in decline; he was plagued by an evil spirit, as described in [1 Samuel 16:14](/1-samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit of the Lord Departs from Saul"), and increasingly consumed by his own troubles and insecurities. This preoccupation could have led to a diminished awareness or a selective memory regarding those around him. Thirdly, David's appearance on the battlefield was dramatically different from his role as a court musician—he was dirty from the sheepfold, perhaps wearing different clothes, and certainly acting in a way that would make him unrecognizable to someone who only knew him in a different context. Finally, and most significantly, this narrative detail serves a theological purpose: it highlights Saul's spiritual blindness and God's sovereign hand in bringing David to national prominence in a way that would clearly demonstrate divine intervention, rather than human recognition or planning. It underscores that God's chosen one was not obvious to human eyes, especially those clouded by spiritual decline.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 17:56, with Saul's bewildered inquiry about the "stripling" David, powerfully foreshadows the coming of the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. Just as David, a humble shepherd boy, was overlooked by human standards yet chosen and empowered by God to deliver Israel from its formidable enemy, so too was Jesus, the Son of God, born in the obscure town of Bethlehem, as prophesied in [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem's Ruler"), and raised in Nazareth, a place from which "nothing good" was expected, as questioned in [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can Anything Good Come from Nazareth?"). The world, like Saul, often failed to recognize Him, looking for a king of earthly power and pedigree, not a humble servant who would conquer sin and death through self-sacrifice, as depicted in [Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - The Suffering Servant"). Yet, it was this "stripling" from an unexpected background, the "Lamb of God," who would take away the sin of the world, as declared in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), ultimately triumphing over the ultimate enemy, Satan, and establishing an eternal kingdom, not by human might but by divine power and perfect obedience. Saul's question, "whose son the stripling [is]," finds its ultimate answer in the New Testament: He is the Son of David, as recorded in [Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "Matthew 1:1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ"), the Son of God, affirmed at His baptism in [Matthew 3:17](/matthew/3-17 "Matthew 3:17 - God's Declaration at Jesus' Baptism"), the one truly chosen and anointed by God to be King of kings and Lord of lords, a title proclaimed in [Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.