What Does 1 Samuel 17:58 Mean in the King James?

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.

1 Samuel 17:58 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

David’s answer places the one named “beloved” in the house of bread and identifies him as the son of a servant.

THE MEANING

This verse gives you a layered identity: you are named through family, service, and place. David calls himself the son of Jesse, Saul’s servant; David means “beloved,” and Bethlehem means “house of bread.” The verse holds belonging and belovedness together.

THE ROOT

בֵּן

ben

GROWS FROM

בנה

Build, establish.

Hebrew’s ben, “son,” echoes banah, “to build”: parentage can carry the image of a household continuing through its children. David’s answer gives more than a name; it places him within a living lineage.

ALSO GROWS

banah: To build or establish.

בָּנָה

The related sound-family gives lineage the image of something built and continued.

banim: Sons or children.

בָּנִים

The plural keeps the connection between children and the continuation of a family.

דָּוִד

Dāwîḏ

GROWS FROM

דוד

Beloved; beloved one.

David’s name carries the sense of “beloved.” His answer holds that nature alongside his descent from a servant, so neither belonging nor belovedness erases the other.

ALSO GROWS

dod: Beloved; also a male relative or uncle.

דּוֹד

This related word carries the beloved sense heard in David’s name.

dodim: Love or endearments.

דּוֹדִים

The plural form extends the root’s language of belovedness into expressions of love.

THE PATTERN

Identity is spoken through belonging: family, name, and place situate a person inside a larger story.

And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Genesis 48:5 · KJVFamily connection determines how these sons are named and where they belong.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

John 1:42 · KJVSimon’s parentage and name are joined in one account of who he is.

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ruth 1:16 · KJVRuth speaks identity through the people and place to which she belongs.

THE THREAD

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, 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 16:18 · KJV

The Hebrew word ben, “son,” links this verse with David’s answer: both place him as Jesse’s son. Together, the verses hold lineage beside the qualities and presence that also mark him.

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