1 Samuel 16:9
ESV
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."
NIV
Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one."
NASB
Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, 'The Lord has not chosen this one, either.'
CSB
Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either."
NLT
Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, 'Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.'
KJV
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
NKJV
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
What does 1 Samuel 16:9 mean?
Samuel traveled to anoint a new king of Israel from among Jesse's sons in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1–4). The prophet would also offer a sacrifice to the Lord, to which he invited the town's elders and Jesse's family (1 Samuel 16:5). Samuel did not know which of Jesse's sons God had chosen. Instead, the Lord will show him as the sons pass before the prophet. When Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse's eldest, he was sure the kingly-looking man was the Lord's choice (1 Samuel 16:6–7). But God rejected both Eliab and the next brother, Abinadab (1 Samuel 16:8).Now Shammah, the third eldest (1 Samuel 17:13), passes by the prophet. It is possible this passing by included Samuel's consecration of the sons for the sacrifice that would be taking place (1 Samuel 16:5). Shammah has also been rejected by the Lord. It is not clear in the text if this pronouncement is the Lord speaking to Samuel or if it is Samuel talking to Jesse. Jesse and his sons know about the anointing at some point (1 Samuel 16:10, 13), but it is unclear whether they know it is an anointing to the office of king.
