Jesse. Father of David. He was a man of the tribes of Judah who lived near Bethlehem. Ruth 4:17; 1 Sam 16:1; 17:17; 1 Chron. 10:14; Isa. 11:10; Luke 3:32; Acts 13:22.

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Jesse, the father of King David. According to the tradition of the book of Ruth (4:17-22; see also Matt. 1:5) Jesse was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He was a prosperous farmer who could afford to send gifts to Saul (1 Sam. 16:20). His social position is stressed in 1 Sam. 17:12, where the Hebrew indicates that he was ‘an old man…who came among men of standing.’ This reference suggests that, like comparable references to Akkadian noblemen, Jesse was a distinguished elder of the community.

Jesse is mentioned in the messianic prophecy of Isaiah (11:1,10), which refers to the house of David, and also in the genealogies of Jesus (Matt. 1:5-6; Luke 3:22).

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