Who was David in the bible?

David (a name associated with “loving” in its Hebrew derivation) is identified in the provided material as “the youngest son of Jesse,” and in Chronicles he appears as the one to whom the kingdom was turned and who was anointed king over Israel.

David in Scripture

In a genealogical listing, David is named as the seventh son in his line:

“Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;” (1 Chronicles 2:15)

Later, David is mentioned in connection with a family note about his children and a named sister:

“All these were the sons of David, in addition to the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.” (1 Chronicles 3:9)

David’s reign is used as a historical marker for the cities of certain groups:

“at Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until David’s reign.” (1 Chronicles 4:31)

He is also credited with appointing personnel for worship at Yahweh’s house after the ark’s settling:

“These are they whom David set over the service of song in Yahweh’s house, after the ark came to rest there.” (1 Chronicles 6:31)

A census-style figure is dated to David’s time:

“The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations. Their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.” (1 Chronicles 7:2)

David is paired with Samuel the seer as one who confirmed gatekeepers in an entrusted office:

“All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust.” (1 Chronicles 9:22)

Chronicles explicitly identifies David as Jesse’s son in connection with the transfer of the kingdom:

“and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10:14)

The key narrative provided (1 Chronicles 11) presents David’s acceptance by “all Israel,” his anointing, his capture and building up of Jerusalem’s stronghold, and a description of the “mighty men” associated with him.

“Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, ‘Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.” (1 Chronicles 11:1)

The gathered Israelites recall David’s prior leadership even while Saul was king, and they quote Yahweh’s stated purpose for David:

“In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’ ” (1 Chronicles 11:2)

At Hebron, Israel’s elders come to David and establish a formal agreement in a religious setting, followed by his anointing as king:

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh’s word by Samuel.” (1 Chronicles 11:3)

Afterward, David and all Israel go to Jerusalem, which is also called Jebus, where the Jebusites are described as “the inhabitants of the land.” The inhabitants challenge David’s entry, but the narrative emphasizes David’s success in taking a fortified place:

“David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.” (1 Chronicles 11:4)

“The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, ‘You will not come in here.’ Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.” (1 Chronicles 11:5)

David issues a challenge that the first to strike the Jebusites would receive a leading military position; Joab is named as the one who goes up first and becomes chief:

“David said, ‘Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.’ Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.” (1 Chronicles 11:6)

With the stronghold taken, the text states that David lived there and that the place received its designation from him:

“David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city.” (1 Chronicles 11:7)

David’s consolidation includes city-building, with Joab repairing what remained:

“He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.” (1 Chronicles 11:8)

The chapter summarizes David’s increasing strength and attributes it to Yahweh’s presence with him:

“David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him.” (1 Chronicles 11:9)

Chronicles then turns to the “chief of the mighty men whom David had,” presenting them as supporters who “showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom” and linking their role to David’s kingship:

“Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh’s word concerning Israel.” (1 Chronicles 11:10)

The list begins with Jashobeam and describes his feat:

“This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.” (1 Chronicles 11:11)

Eleazar is then named, and a battle scene is sketched in which he is “with David”:

“After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.” (1 Chronicles 11:12)

“He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.” (1 Chronicles 11:13)

“They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.” (1 Chronicles 11:14)

Another episode describes three chief men coming to David at “the cave of Adullam,” while Philistine forces are positioned nearby, including a garrison in Bethlehem:

“Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.” (1 Chronicles 11:15)

“David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.” (1 Chronicles 11:16)

David expresses a longing for water from Bethlehem’s well, which prompts the men’s dangerous action:

“David longed, and said, ‘Oh that one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’ ” (1 Chronicles 11:17)

“The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,” (1 Chronicles 11:18)

David explains his refusal in a statement that treats the water as bound up with the men’s risk:

“and said, ‘My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?’ For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.” (1 Chronicles 11:19)

Further mighty men are identified, including Abishai and Benaiah, with brief descriptions of their deeds, and one administrative detail tied directly to David:

“Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.” (1 Chronicles 11:20)

“Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.” (1 Chronicles 11:24)

“Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.” (1 Chronicles 11:25)

The chapter then provides an extended roster of “mighty men of the armies,” ending with a list that includes “Uriah the Hittite” among others (1 Chronicles 11:26–47). Taken as a whole, the narrative portrays David as Israel’s anointed king at Hebron, as the one who captured and established “David’s city” at the stronghold of Zion, and as a ruler surrounded by recognized warriors and officials.

Name and Meaning

The Hebrew form is דָּוִד, transliterated David and pronounced daw-veed’. In the Strong’s derivation supplied, the name is connected to the sense “loving,” traced to a related root associated (figuratively) with love, with the component dowd (דּוֹד) noted in that explanation.

Closing observation

In the provided texts, David’s rise and stability are repeatedly framed in covenantal and divine terms—he is anointed “before Yahweh” (1 Chronicles 11:3), and his growth is summarized as: “David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him” (1 Chronicles 11:9).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name David mean?

David means “loving.”

How many times does David appear in the Bible?

David appears 780 times.

Who was David?

David is identified as the youngest son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:14 calls him “David the son of Jesse.”

What happened at Hebron involving David?

All the elders of Israel came to Hebron, and David made a covenant with them there before Yahweh; they anointed David king over Israel (1 Chronicles 11:3).

Explore Further

If you found this page about David interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).