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1 Samuel 16:9

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Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Then Jesse {H3448} made Shammah {H8048} to pass by {H5674}. And he said {H559}, Neither hath the LORD {H3068} chosen {H977} this.

Yishai presented Shammah; again Sh'mu'el said, "ADONAI hasn't chosen this one either."

Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.

Commentary

1 Samuel 16:9 continues the significant narrative of God’s selection of a new king for Israel, following the rejection of Saul. In this verse, Jesse presents his third son, Shammah, to the prophet Samuel, but like his older brothers, Shammah is also not God's chosen one for the throne.

Context

This verse is part of the pivotal account in 1 Samuel 16, where the prophet Samuel is sent by God to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the family of Jesse. After King Saul's disobedience, God had rejected him as king (1 Samuel 15:23). Samuel, initially hesitant, obeys God's instruction to go and anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse. As Jesse presents his sons one by one, Samuel is initially impressed by Eliab, the eldest, assuming he must be the Lord's choice due to his imposing stature. However, God corrects Samuel's human perspective, revealing that man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Shammah is the third son to pass before Samuel, and the divine verdict remains the same: "Neither hath the LORD chosen this." This repeated rejection builds anticipation for God's true selection, who is yet to be revealed.

Key Themes

  • Divine Rejection of Outward Appearance: The passing over of Shammah, following Eliab and Abinadab, powerfully reinforces the principle that God's choice is not based on human standards of beauty, strength, or social standing. God looks beyond the visible.
  • God's Sovereign Choice: This verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty in selecting leaders. His choice is independent of human expectations or qualifications, emphasizing that His plans and purposes will be fulfilled according to His perfect will.
  • The Unveiling of God's Plan: Each son presented and rejected narrows the field, drawing closer to the eventual revelation of David, who was overlooked by his own family. This methodical process underscores the meticulous nature of God's providence.

Linguistic Insights

The key word in this verse is "chosen," translated from the Hebrew verb bachar (בָּחַר). This term means to select, elect, or pick out. Its repeated use throughout 1 Samuel 16 emphasizes that this entire process is about God's deliberate, active, and specific selection, rather than a human nomination or a mere passing glance. God is actively sifting through Jesse's family to find *His* chosen one, who will be fit for His purposes, not just for man's.

Practical Application

The rejection of Shammah, like his brothers, offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Trust God's Wisdom: We are encouraged to trust God's perspective over our own human judgment. What appears strong, capable, or impressive to us may not align with God's perfect will or criteria for leadership and service.
  • God Sees the Heart: This narrative reminds us that our true value and potential in God's kingdom are not determined by our outward appearance, achievements, or social status, but by the condition of our heart and our willingness to serve Him.
  • Humility and Availability: God often chooses the humble and overlooked for significant roles, as seen later with David. This encourages us to remain humble and available for God's purposes, rather than striving for human recognition or position. The ultimate chosen one, David, is introduced shortly after this series of rejections, leading to his anointing in 1 Samuel 16:12.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 17:13 (3 votes)

    And the three eldest sons of Jesse went [and] followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle [were] Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

  • 1 Chronicles 2:13 (2 votes)

    And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,

  • 2 Samuel 13:3 (2 votes)

    But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man.