1 Samuel 16:12

12 misit ergo et adduxit eum erat autem rufus et pulcher aspectu decoraque facie et ait Dominus surge ungue eum ipse est enim

1 Samuel 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 16:12

And he sent and brought him in
Sent messengers into the field and to the flock for him, and being come home Jesse introduced him into the room where Samuel was:

now he was ruddy;
which some understand not of the ruddiness of his complexion, or of his cheeks, but of the redness of his hair; the former seems best:

and withal of a beautiful countenance;
of comely features: or "beautiful eyes" F5; bright, clear, and sparkling; eyes that are black or blue are reckoned beautiful:

and goodly to look to;
of a pleasant countenance, delightful to behold; he carried sweetness as well as majesty in his face; in this he was a type of Christ, ( Song of Solomon 5:10 Song of Solomon 5:16 ) . A beautiful aspect, as well as shape and height, recommended persons for government, as with the Ethiopians, as Aristotle F6 relates; so Agamemnon is represented by Priamus F7 for his personable appearance, as like a king, and fit to be one:

and the Lord said, arise, anoint him, for this is he;
that he had spoken to him of, and who it was his pleasure should be anointed king; and therefore, by a secret strong impulse upon his mind, was put upon doing it immediately, without any hesitation or delay.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Mynye hpy Me) "simul pulcher oculis", Montanus; "cum pulchritudine oculorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F6 Politic. l. 4. c. 4.
F7 Homer. Iliad. 3. v. 166.

1 Samuel 16:12 In-Context

10 adduxit itaque Isai septem filios suos coram Samuhel et ait Samuhel ad Isai non elegit Dominus ex istis
11 dixitque Samuhel ad Isai numquid iam conpleti sunt filii qui respondit adhuc reliquus est parvulus et pascit oves et ait Samuhel ad Isai mitte et adduc eum nec enim discumbemus priusquam ille huc venerit
12 misit ergo et adduxit eum erat autem rufus et pulcher aspectu decoraque facie et ait Dominus surge ungue eum ipse est enim
13 tulit igitur Samuhel cornu olei et unxit eum in medio fratrum eius et directus est spiritus Domini in David a die illa et in reliquum surgensque Samuhel abiit in Ramatha
14 spiritus autem Domini recessit a Saul et exagitabat eum spiritus nequam a Domino
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.