1 Samuel 17:55
“When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.””
What does 1 Samuel 17:55 mean?
King Saul is asking his military commander Abner to identify this young man David, who's about to face the giant Goliath in single combat. It's a striking moment because David has become known throughout Israel for his courage and faith, yet Saul—the king himself—doesn't seem to know who he is or where he comes from. Abner's honest answer, "I can't tell," shows that even the army's leader has no idea. This sets up the irony of the story: a nobody shepherd boy is about to become a hero while the established leadership remains in the dark about his identity and destiny. It's a reminder that God often works through unexpected people, and that recognition and importance in His eyes don't always match what the powerful or well-connected notice.