The Meaning of 1 Samuel 16:3 Explained

1 Samuel 16:3

KJV: And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

YLT: and thou hast called for Jesse in the sacrifice, and I cause thee to know that which thou dost do, and thou hast anointed to Me him of whom I speak unto thee.'

Darby: And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

ASV: And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And call  Jesse  to the sacrifice,  and I will shew  thee what thou shalt do:  and thou shalt anoint  unto me [him] whom I name  unto thee. 

What does 1 Samuel 16:3 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 16:1-13 - God's Choice Of His Anointed
The anointing of the young shepherd, with his ruddy cheeks and deep, poetic eyes, is a beautiful episode, in very marked contrast to the events preceding. He had already given proof of his indomitable courage, 1 Samuel 17:34. They had to fetch him from his sheep, which he was pasturing beside the still waters and on the hillside. God had found him beforehand, Psalms 89:20. "He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds"¦ to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance," Psalms 78:70-71.
The procession of David's brethren before Samuel was very impressive. They probably remembered that Saul had been chosen for his splendid physique, and each held himself high and proud. "Surely," said Jesse to himself, "one of them will captivate the prophet's eye." But no! God chooses by the inward temper and disposition. He knew that David was a man after His own heart. The lad had been faithful in a few things and was now to be made ruler over many. The anointing oil reminds us of the anointing for service which was communicated to our Lord at His baptism. In David's case it was accompanied by a glorious Pentecost, 1 Samuel 16:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 16

1  Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Bethlehem
6  His human judgment is reproved
11  He anoints David
15  Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 16:3 mean?

And invite Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show you - what you shall do and you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you
וְקָרָ֥אתָ לְיִשַׁ֖י בַּזָּ֑בַח וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶֽׁר־ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣ לִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־ אֹמַ֖ר אֵלֶֽיךָ

וְקָרָ֥אתָ  And  invite 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לְיִשַׁ֖י  Jesse 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישַׁי 
Sense: son of Boaz and the father of king David.
בַּזָּ֑בַח  to  the  sacrifice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
וְאָֽנֹכִ֗י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙  will  show  you 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֵ֣ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה  you  shall  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣  and  you  shall  anoint 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁח  
Sense: to smear, anoint, spread a liquid.
לִ֔י  for  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
אֲשֶׁר־  the  one 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֹמַ֖ר  I  name 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלֶֽיךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).