1 Samuel 17:55 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Watching David go out, Saul asks his commander Abner whose son the youth is.
What Does 1 Samuel 17:55 Mean?
As Saul watches David go forth against the giant, he turns to Abner, captain of the host, and asks whose son this youth is. Abner can only answer that he does not know. The king wishes to learn the family of the one who fights for Israel.
Saul's question, asked twice in these closing verses, sets the stage for David's introduction to the royal house. The deliverer rises from obscurity into the king's notice. God is lifting His chosen servant into view, that all may come to know the one through whom He has worked, and through whom He will yet work greater things for His people.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 17:55
What does 1 Samuel 17:55 mean?
Watching David go out, Saul asks his commander Abner whose son the youth is.