1 Samuel 17:58

KJV

And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man? And David answered, I [am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Saul {H7586} said {H559} to him, Whose son {H1121} art thou, thou young man {H5288}? And David {H1732} answered {H559}, I am the son {H1121} of thy servant {H5650} Jesse {H3448} the Bethlehemite {H1022}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sha'ul asked him, "Young man, whose son are you?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Yishai the Beit-Lachmi."

Berean Standard Bible

“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.

American Standard Version

And 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 17:58 captures the climactic moment immediately following David's unprecedented victory over Goliath, where King Saul, still reeling from the events, directly interrogates the young hero about his identity. David's humble and direct response, identifying himself as "the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite," serves as his formal introduction to the royal court and marks the definitive beginning of his public life and meteoric rise within Israel. This exchange underscores the profound shift in Israel's leadership narrative, moving from a king chosen by human preference to a divinely appointed shepherd-king.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the immediate aftermath and concluding statement to the epic confrontation described in [1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath"). It follows David's decisive defeat of Goliath, an act that single-handedly turned the tide of battle for Israel. The preceding verses ([1 Samuel 17:55-57](/1_samuel/17-55 "1 Samuel 17:55-57 - Saul's Initial Inquiry")) describe Saul's initial inquiry to Abner about David's parentage *before* the battle's conclusion, indicating Saul's astonishment and perhaps a desire to fulfill the promised reward for Goliath's vanquisher ([1 Samuel 17:25](/1_samuel/17-25 "1 Samuel 17:25 - The Reward for Defeating Goliath")). Verse 58 brings David directly before Saul, culminating the narrative arc of the battle and transitioning the focus to David's integration into the royal sphere. It sets the stage for the intense and complex relationship between David and Saul that will dominate the subsequent chapters of [1 Samuel](/1_samuel/18 "1 Samuel 18 - David's Popularity and Saul's Jealousy").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, lineage and family identity were paramount. A person's standing, reputation, and even legal rights were often tied to their tribal and familial connections. Saul's question, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?", is not merely casual curiosity but a culturally significant inquiry aimed at understanding David's social placement, potential allegiances, and the family that would now share in his glory (and the promised rewards, including tax exemption for his father's house, as per [1 Samuel 17:25](/1_samuel/17-25 "1 Samuel 17:25 - The Reward for Defeating Goliath")). The mention of "Bethlehemite" further grounds David within a specific geographical and familial context, identifying him as belonging to the town of Bethlehem in Judah, a small but historically significant location. This emphasis on family and origin would have been well understood by the original audience, highlighting David's humble, yet divinely chosen, background.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [1 Samuel](/1_samuel/1 "The Book of 1 Samuel - Introduction"). Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Providence and Unexpected Heroes**. David, a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem ([1 Samuel 16:11](/1_samuel/16-11 "1 Samuel 16:11 - David Called from the Sheep")), is chosen by God and empowered to achieve what the entire Israelite army, including their king, could not. This highlights God's preference for the humble and overlooked, demonstrating His power through unlikely vessels, a motif seen throughout biblical history. Secondly, it emphasizes **Identity and Lineage**, not just in a cultural sense, but in a theological one. David's identity as "son of Jesse the Bethlehemite" is crucial, as it connects him to the lineage from which the Messiah would eventually come ([Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem as Messiah's Birthplace")). Finally, the scene sets up the theme of **Saul's Decline and David's Ascent**. Saul's inability to recognize David, despite David having previously served him as a musician and armor-bearer ([1 Samuel 16:21](/1_samuel/16-21 "1 Samuel 16:21 - David Enters Saul's Service")), hints at Saul's spiritual blindness and forgetfulness, contrasting sharply with David's clear-sighted faith and divine favor.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Whose son (Hebrew, _mî-ben'_):** This interrogative phrase is more than a simple question of paternity; it is an inquiry into identity, lineage, and social standing. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, one's identity was intrinsically linked to their father's house. Saul's question seeks to place David within the social hierarchy and understand his familial background, which would determine his status, potential claims, and the implications of his heroic deed for his entire family. It reflects the king's need to understand the new, powerful figure who has emerged.
* **young man (Hebrew, _hana'ar'_):** The term "young man" or "lad" emphasizes David's youth and relative inexperience from an earthly perspective. This highlights the stark contrast between his tender age and the monumental feat he just accomplished. It underscores the miraculous nature of his victory, as it was not achieved by human strength or military training, but by divine empowerment, further magnifying God's glory through an unlikely agent.
* **Jesse the Bethlehemite (Hebrew, _yishay bêt hal-laḥmî'_):** David's self-identification is remarkably humble and precise. He does not boast of his victory or his anointing, but simply states his filial relationship to Jesse and his geographical origin. "Jesse" grounds him in his immediate family, while "Bethlehemite" connects him to his hometown, a significant detail that would later hold prophetic weight regarding the Messiah's birthplace. The inclusion of "thy servant" further emphasizes David's humility and respect for Saul's kingship, despite his own divine calling.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man?":** This opening clause captures Saul's astonishment and directness. Having witnessed David's incredible courage and success, Saul's previous indirect inquiry through Abner ([1 Samuel 17:55-56](/1_samuel/17-55 "1 Samuel 17:55-56 - Saul's Prior Inquiry")) now gives way to a direct personal question. The repetition of "thou" (implied in the Hebrew and made explicit in KJV) emphasizes the direct address and the king's intense focus on David. The question reveals Saul's inability to reconcile the humble harpist he knew with the giant-slaying warrior standing before him, highlighting a spiritual blindness or perhaps a memory lapse.
* **"And David answered, I [am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.":** David's response is a model of humility and truthfulness. He does not elaborate on his anointing by Samuel ([1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing")), his musical talent, or his recent heroic deed. Instead, he simply identifies himself by his lineage and hometown, acknowledging his place within the social structure and his father's house. The phrase "thy servant" further demonstrates his respect for Saul's authority, even as he stands on the precipice of becoming the next king. This simple, unadorned answer speaks volumes about David's character and his focus on God rather than self-aggrandizement.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several key literary devices. **Dialogue** is central, as the direct exchange between Saul and David provides a concise and impactful way to convey the immediate aftermath of the battle and David's formal introduction. The **Irony** is palpable: Saul, the physically imposing king, chosen for his stature, is unable to defeat Goliath, while the young, seemingly insignificant shepherd David, whom Saul barely recognizes, achieves the victory. This dramatic irony underscores the divine reversal of human expectations. Furthermore, the mention of "Bethlehemite" functions as **Foreshadowing**, subtly pointing to the future significance of this humble town as the birthplace of the Messiah, linking David's lineage to that of Jesus Christ. The scene also utilizes **Contrast** between Saul's initial fear and David's unwavering faith, and between Saul's forgotten knowledge of David and David's clear, humble self-identification.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 17:58 is a pivotal theological moment, illustrating God's sovereign choice and elevation of the humble. It underscores that divine favor and power are not contingent on human status, physical might, or royal lineage, but on a heart devoted to God. David's identity as "the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite" is a profound statement of humility in the face of extraordinary triumph, reflecting a character that trusts in God alone for victory. This scene sets the stage for David's kingship, demonstrating that God's chosen leader often emerges from unexpected places, fulfilling His purposes in ways that confound human wisdom. It reinforces the biblical principle that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance, and delights in using the weak to shame the strong, thereby magnifying His own glory.

* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")
* [Psalm 8:2](/psalms/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - Out of the Mouths of Babes")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Lowly")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This brief exchange between Saul and David offers profound lessons for believers today. David's humble response in the immediate wake of his greatest triumph serves as a powerful reminder that true greatness is found not in self-promotion or boasting, but in acknowledging our origins and giving glory to God. In a world that often celebrates individual achievement and encourages self-aggrandizement, David's example calls us to cultivate humility, even when we experience significant successes or accomplishments. It challenges us to remember that any victory we achieve, especially in spiritual battles, is ultimately by God's grace and power, not our own. We are called to be faithful servants, regardless of the platform or recognition we receive, always pointing back to the One who empowers us. This verse also encourages us to trust in God's unconventional methods; He often chooses the seemingly unqualified or overlooked to accomplish His greatest works, demonstrating that His strength is made perfect in weakness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's humble response in a moment of triumph challenge my own tendencies toward pride or self-promotion when I experience success?**
* **In what areas of my life might God be calling me to embrace a "Bethlehemite" identity, trusting in His power rather than my own perceived qualifications or status?**
* **How can I better recognize and affirm the "unlikely heroes" God is raising up in my community or the wider world, rather than focusing solely on those who fit conventional molds?**

### FAQ
**Why did Saul ask David who his father was, especially since David had already served him?**

Answer: Saul's question, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?", in [1 Samuel 17:58](/1_samuel/17-58 "1 Samuel 17:58 - Saul's Inquiry to David"), is perplexing given that David had previously served in Saul's court as a musician and armor-bearer ([1 Samuel 16:21](/1_samuel/16-21 "1 Samuel 16:21 - David Enters Saul's Service")). Several factors likely contributed to this apparent forgetfulness or lack of recognition. Firstly, David's previous role was primarily as a court musician, a relatively minor position, and he may not have been a constant presence. Saul's mental state, often troubled by an evil spirit ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - Saul's Torment")), could have affected his memory or perception. Secondly, David's appearance and demeanor might have been dramatically different in the context of battle, covered in dust and blood, compared to his clean, musical attire at court. Most significantly, the sheer magnitude of David's feat—defeating Goliath, a challenge no one else dared to face—would have elevated him from a mere servant to a national hero. Saul's question was likely driven by the custom of honoring the family of a great warrior and the promised reward for Goliath's vanquisher, which included great riches and tax exemption for his father’s house ([1 Samuel 17:25](/1_samuel/17-25 "1 Samuel 17:25 - The Reward for Defeating Goliath")). It was less about recognizing David as an individual and more about identifying the family that would now be elevated.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The humble identity David declares in [1 Samuel 17:58](/1_samuel/17-58 "1 Samuel 17:58 - David's Identity Revealed"), "the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite," profoundly foreshadows the Christ. Just as David, a shepherd from the unassuming town of Bethlehem, was chosen by God to deliver Israel and become its king, so too was Jesus, the ultimate King and Shepherd, born in that very same Bethlehem ([Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem as Messiah's Birthplace"); [Matthew 2:1](/matthew/2-1 "Matthew 2:1 - Jesus Born in Bethlehem")). David's victory over Goliath, achieved not by conventional might but by divine empowerment, prefigures Christ's decisive victory over sin and death, not through worldly power but through humble obedience and sacrificial love on the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Furthermore, David's humble self-identification as "thy servant" echoes the servant-heart of Jesus, who, though God, "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humility")). The "son of Jesse" points directly to Jesus as the "Root of Jesse" ([Isaiah 11:1](/isaiah/11-1 "Isaiah 11:1 - The Branch from Jesse")), the promised Messiah who would fulfill the Davidic covenant and reign eternally ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - The Davidic Covenant Fulfilled")). Thus, this seemingly simple exchange in 1 Samuel 17:58 is a powerful testament to God's pattern of choosing the humble and overlooked to accomplish His grand redemptive purposes, ultimately culminating in the advent of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")).

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.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 17:12

¶ Now David [was] the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name [was] Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of Saul.

1 Samuel 16:18

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.

1 Samuel 16:19

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep.