Jesse (David's father living at the time of United Monarchy) - Fact Book

First, in plain English

Obed's son and Boaz and Ruth's grandson, a man of some standing in Bethlehem with eight sons, the youngest David. Isaiah's "stem of Jesse" is David's family, and the "root of Jesse" is the Messiah. The last we see of him, David is getting him a safe place with the king of Moab.

In Luke

David's own father, named right next to Boaz in the genealogy (3:32): Obed's son, one generation closer to the throne. The same Josephus chapter that tells Boaz and Ruth's story ends by naming exactly this line down to David.

Who this is

Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22; Matt. 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David (1 Sam. 17:12). The phrase “stem of Jesse” is used for the family of David (Isa. 11:1), and “root of Jesse” for the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rev. 5:5). Jesse was a man apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem (1 Sam. 17:17, 18, 20; Ps. 78:71). The last reference to him is of David’s procuring for him an asylum with the king of Moab (1 Sam. 22:3).

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

The word

H3448 · G2421

Where it appears

Ruth 4:17
Ruth 4:22
1 Samuel 16:1
1 Samuel 16:3
1 Samuel 16:5
1 Samuel 16:8
1 Samuel 16:9
1 Samuel 16:10
1 Samuel 16:11
1 Samuel 16:18
1 Samuel 16:19
1 Samuel 16:20
1 Samuel 16:22
1 Samuel 17:12
1 Samuel 17:13
1 Samuel 17:17
1 Samuel 17:20
1 Samuel 17:58
1 Samuel 20:27
1 Samuel 20:30
1 Samuel 20:31
1 Samuel 22:7
1 Samuel 22:8
1 Samuel 22:9
1 Samuel 22:13
1 Samuel 25:10
2 Samuel 20:1
2 Samuel 23:1
1 Kings 12:16
1 Chronicles 2:12
1 Chronicles 2:13
1 Chronicles 10:14
1 Chronicles 12:18
1 Chronicles 29:26
2 Chronicles 10:16
2 Chronicles 11:18
Psalm 72:20
Isaiah 11:1
Isaiah 11:10
Matthew 1:5
Matthew 1:6
Luke 3:32
Acts 13:22
Romans 15:12