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1 Samuel 17:55
ESV As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know."
NIV As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is that young man?" Abner replied, "As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know."
NASB Now when Saul had seen David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, 'Abner, whose son is this young man?' And Abner said, 'By your life, O king, I do not know.'
CSB When Saul had seen David going out to confront the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army, "Whose son is this youth, Abner?" "Your Majesty, as surely as you live, I don’t know," Abner replied.
NLT As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, 'Abner, whose son is this young man?' 'I really don’t know,' Abner declared.
KJV And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
NKJV When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”

What does 1 Samuel 17:55 mean?

When this chapter is read out of context, it seems as if King Saul doesn't know who David is. Yet King Saul knew David prior to the encounter on the battlefield. David played music for Saul, and some think that the incident with Goliath was part of how David became the king's armor-bearer (1 Samuel 16:14–23; 17:15). The king approved David's request to go fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:31–36) and even tried to loan David his armor (1 Samuel 17:38–40). Saul sent the young man out with a blessing, "Go, and the Lord be with you!" (1 Samuel 17:37). Seeing his courage, Saul asked for more information. This is much like the common moment in action movies where someone looks at the hero and asks, "who is this guy?"

Saul probably did not remember whose family David came from. Saul "loved [David] greatly" (1 Samuel 16:21) and had previously asked David's father to send David into his service (1 Samuel 16:22). But that does not mean the king remembered every detail about each of his servants and their families. Now that he had special reason to pay attention to David, the king asks the commander of the army where the youth comes from.

It seems natural to want to know the origin of one so brave, courageous, and faithful to the Lord. The king had also promised to make any Israelite victor's family "free in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:25). Saul needed to know which household to thank and bless if David won. If David was killed, he also needed to know which family to notify.

Abner's response reveals the level of respect the king was given. He carefully gives his negative answer that he does not know David's origin by first saying "as your soul lives, O king."
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