Who Was David’s Mother?
The question Who was David’s mother? has intrigued readers of Scripture for centuries. While Jesse, David’s father, is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, his mother remains unnamed. Later traditions supply possible names such as Nizbeth or Nitzevet, yet the biblical text itself leaves her in the background. Exploring this silence, as well as the theories surrounding David’s family, helps us understand both the mystery of David’s early life and the theological significance of his lineage.
1. David’s Family in the Bible
The books of 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles provide details about David’s father Jesse and his brothers, but not his mother.
When Samuel visits Bethlehem to anoint the next king:
“Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’” (1 Samuel 16:10–11)
The text emphasizes Jesse’s role, while David’s mother is not mentioned. This is consistent in other places:
“Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.” (1 Chronicles 2:13–15)
Here again, the genealogical list gives only Jesse and his sons, with no reference to their mother.
Psalm 86, traditionally attributed to David, contains a personal plea:
“Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.” (Psalm 86:16)
This phrase may simply be poetic humility, but it is one of the only glimpses we have of David’s mother, reminding us of her presence even though she is unnamed.
2. Later Traditions about David’s Mother
Because Scripture does not give her name, later traditions and rabbinic writings attempted to supply one. In Jewish midrash and medieval commentary, she is sometimes identified as Nitzevet bat Adael. Other sources suggest the name Nizbeth. These traditions aimed to fill the gap left by the biblical narrative.
However, none of these names appear in the canonical Old Testament. They belong to interpretive tradition, not to inspired Scripture.
3. The Concubine Theory
One theory is that David’s mother may have been a concubine rather than Jesse’s primary wife. This would explain why David is introduced with less prominence than his brothers, almost as an outsider in 1 Samuel 16. Some interpreters note that Jesse does not bring David forward willingly but leaves him in the fields.
Arguments in favor:
Lower family status: Concubines did not have the same status as wives, and their children sometimes received less honor.
Narrative hints: David seems overlooked in key family moments.
Pattern of outsiders: In biblical history, God often raises up leaders from unexpected or marginalized places.
Yet there are also reasons this theory cannot be proven:
The Bible nowhere explicitly states Jesse had a concubine.
David is consistently called “the son of Jesse” with no qualification.
Genealogies list Jesse’s sons together without distinction (1 Chronicles 2:13–15).
Thus, while possible, the concubine theory remains speculative.
4. Pagan Women in David’s Lineage
Even if David’s mother were a concubine or of uncertain background, such a detail would fit into a larger biblical pattern. Several women in David’s ancestry were Gentiles or associated with scandal, yet God used them to advance His redemptive plan:
Tamar – She posed as a prostitute to conceive by Judah (Genesis 38).
Rahab – A Canaanite prostitute from Jericho who helped Israel (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5).
Ruth – A Moabite widow who became the great-grandmother of David (Ruth 1:4, 4:17).
Bathsheba (meaning daughter of Sheba) – Later David’s wife and mother of Solomon, she was married to Uriah the Hittite, raising questions of possible Gentile association (2 Samuel 11).
Matthew’s genealogy underscores this inclusion:
“Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.” (Matthew 1:5–6)
This pattern may point forward to the inclusion of Gentiles in the new covenant. Just as unexpected women shaped David’s lineage, so too Christ’s lineage openly includes those outside Israel, foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel.
5. Why the Silence Matters
The Bible’s silence about David’s mother may itself be significant. It places the focus not on maternal lineage but on God’s sovereign choice. When Samuel anointed David, the Lord reminded him:
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
David’s rise did not depend on status, birth order, or his mother’s identity. It depended on God’s call. This anticipates the way God chose to bring salvation through Christ—not through worldly prestige, but through divine purpose.
Conclusion
David’s mother remains unnamed in the Bible, though later traditions attempt to identify her as Nizbeth or Nitzevet. Some theories suggest she could have been a concubine, explaining David’s marginalization within Jesse’s family. Others point to the pattern of Gentile and scandal-associated women in David’s lineage, showing how God works through unexpected people to accomplish His covenant purposes.
Ultimately, the consistent witness of Scripture is that David was Jesse’s son, chosen by God, and his story points beyond himself to the Son of David, Jesus Christ, who fulfills God’s promises to Israel and opens the covenant to all nations.
Bible Verses about David’s Family
“Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’” (1 Samuel 16:10)
“And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.’” (1 Samuel 16:11)
“Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.” (Psalm 86:16)
“Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.” (1 Chronicles 2:13–15)
“Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.” (Matthew 1:5–6)
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 17:5)
“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
“Jesus Christ was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power.” (Romans 1:3–4)
