1 Samuel 17:56
1 Samuel 17:56 in Multiple Translations
“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.
And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.
And the king said, Make search and see whose son this young man is.
“Find out whose son this young man is,” the king ordered.
Then the King sayde, Enquire thou whose sonne this yong man is.
And the king saith, 'Ask thou whose son this [is] — the young man.'
The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is!”
And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is .
And the king said: Inquire thou, whose son this man is.
Then the king said, “Find out whose son he is!”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 17:56
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Samuel 17:56 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ
שְׁאַ֣ל
אַתָּ֔ה
בֶּן
מִי
זֶ֖ה
הָ/עָֽלֶם
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
Art | N-ms
שְׁאַ֣ל
shâʼal
H7592
to ask
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
אַתָּ֔ה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
בֶּן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
מִי
mîy
H4310
who?
Part
זֶ֖ה
zeh
H2088
this
Pron
הָ/עָֽלֶם
ʻelem
H5958
youth
Art | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 17:56
וַ/יֹּ֖אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
Art | N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
שְׁאַ֣ל
shâʼal
H7592
"to ask"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Definition: 1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. See also: Genesis 24:47; 2 Samuel 8:10; Psalms 2:8.
אַתָּ֔ה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
בֶּן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
מִי
mîy
H4310
"who?"
Part
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Definition: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Usage: Occurs in 342 OT verses. KJV: any (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God. See also: Genesis 3:11; 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalms 4:7.
זֶ֖ה
zeh
H2088
"this"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
הָ/עָֽלֶם
ʻelem
H5958
"youth"
Art | N-ms
This word means a young man, often in his teens or early twenties. It describes someone who is still growing and developing. In the Bible, it is used to describe young men like David and Solomon.
Definition: young man
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: young man, stripling. See also: 1 Samuel 17:56; 1 Samuel 20:22.
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 17:56
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — David Slays Goliath
54David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath’s weapons in his own tent.
55As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”
56“Find out whose son this young man is!” said the king.
57So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. 58“Whose son are you, young man?” asked Saul. “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,” David replied.1 Samuel 17:56 Summary
This verse shows that King Saul was impressed by David's bravery and wanted to know more about him. He asked his commander, Abner, to find out who David's father was, which is a natural response when we see someone do something amazing, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:51-54. However, as Christians, we know that our true identity and worth come from God, not from our family background or accomplishments, as stated in Ephesians 1:3-14. We can learn from David's example to trust in God's power and provision, and to use our gifts and abilities to serve and glorify Him, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:45-47.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did King Saul ask about David's family background?
King Saul asked about David's family background because he was impressed by David's bravery and wanted to know more about this young man who had just defeated the giant Goliath, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:51-54. This curiosity is reminiscent of how God knows each of us and our families, as stated in Psalms 139:1-6.
What can we learn from King Saul's reaction to David's victory?
King Saul's reaction to David's victory teaches us about the importance of humility and recognizing God's work in others, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:45-47. It also highlights how God can use anyone, regardless of their background, to accomplish great things, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual inheritance?
This verse relates to the concept of spiritual inheritance because David's physical family background is not as important as his spiritual heritage, which is rooted in his faith in God, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:45-47. This is similar to how our spiritual inheritance is based on our faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in Galatians 3:26-29.
What does this verse reveal about King Saul's character?
This verse reveals that King Saul is curious and wants to know more about David, but it also hints at his own pride and desire for control, as seen in 1 Samuel 15:1-31. This is in contrast to David's humility and trust in God, as stated in Psalms 23:1-6.
Reflection Questions
- How can I, like King Saul, recognize and appreciate the gifts and abilities that God has given to others?
- What are some ways that I can, like David, trust in God's power and provision in my own life?
- How can I balance my desire for recognition and approval with a humble and servant-hearted attitude, as seen in David's response to King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:58?
- What are some ways that I can, like David, use my gifts and abilities to serve and glorify God, as stated in 1 Peter 4:10-11?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 17:56
And the king said, inquire thou whose son the stripling [is]. Still the question is the same, being very desirous of knowing of what family he was, for the reason before given, [See comments on 1 Samuel 17:55].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 17:56
And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. Enquire thou whose son the stripling is , [ haa`aalem (H5958), a youth of marriageable age; Septuagint, ho neaniskos].
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:56
1 Samuel 17:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling [is].Ver. 56. Enquire thou.] It was fit that such a stripling should be noted and noticed, as durst grapple with such a daring giant.
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 17:56
56. the stripling] This word is the diminutive of strip, and like slip, scion, &c. means a youth, as it were a strip from the parent stem. The Heb. word, which is found again only in 1 Samuel 20:22, signifies “a full grown youth.”