Who Was King David's Father? Jesse of Bethlehem
David's father was Jesse the Bethlehemite, and the anointing of David happens at Jesse's household. The scene shows God providing a king for himself and passing over the older brothers who looked more likely.
What Does the Name David Mean in 1 Samuel 16?
The Bible does not pause to define the name David here. Instead, 1 Samuel 16:13 shows the man who carries the name being anointed in front of his brothers and equipped by God's Spirit from that day forward.
1 Samuel 16:7: God Looks at the Heart
Samuel sized up Eliab by face and height, and God stopped him. The choosing at Bethlehem shows that God's evaluation does not run along the lines of human assessment.
1 Samuel 16:7: God Looks at the Heart
God's rejection of Eliab shows that his evaluation of a person differs from ours at the point of choice. The verse describes how God knows and chooses, not a promise that inward worth wins out on earth.
How to study a biblical character without hero worship: A Step-by-Step Guide
God corrects Samuel twice in this passage, first for mourning a king he has rejected and then for judging by appearance, and then he has the overlooked youngest son anointed. David is studied here as a person inside God's unfolding purpose, not as a hero to imitate.