A Bethlehemite from the tribe of Judah, son of Obed and grandson of Boaz and Ruth the Moabite; father of David. The phrase "son of Jesse" was apparently used by David's enemies to allude to his humble origins (I Sam 20:27, 30-31, etc.), but the term became a venerable one, so much so that it was predicted that the messiah would come from the "root of Jesse" (Is 11:10; cf 11:1; Rom 15:12). Jesse had eight sons (I Sam 16:10-11; 17:12). Seven are named in I Chronicles 2:13-15; and the eighth, Elihu, in I Chronicles 27:18.
Two sisters of David, Abigail and Zeruiah, are named in I Chronicles 2:16. Perhaps they were only step-daughters of Jesse, since Abigail is referred to as the "daughter of Nahash" (II Sam 17:25). It is twice mentioned that Jesse received a petition from King Saul to send David to the court (I Sam 16:14-23); and once he sent David to the battlefield to bring food supplies to his three eldest sons. This preceded David's famous duel with Goliath (I Sam 17:12ff). The circumstances of Jesse's death are unknown. I Samuel 22:3-4 says that when David's future was as yet unsure he placed his parents under the protection of the king of Moab. They are not mentioned again although verse 4 implies their return to Judah.
Jesse is named in the genealogies of Jesus (Matt 1:5-6; Luke 3:32) while Paul sees Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy concerning the "root of Jesse" (Rom 15:12).
Concordance
Ruth 4:17, 22. I Sam 16:1, 3,5, 8-11, 18-20,22; 17:12-13,17, 20, 58; 20:27, 30-31; 22:7-9, 13; 25:10. II Sam 20:1; 23:1. I Kgs 12:16. I Chr 2:12-13; 10:14; 12:18; 29:26. II Chr 10:16; 11:18. Ps 72:20. Is 11:1, 10. Matt 1:5-6. Luke 3:32. Acts 13:22. Rom 15:12



