Who was the father of King David?

Who was the father of King David? Jesse was David’s father. Jesse lived in Bethlehem and belonged to the tribe of Judah, placing David within the family line that became the royal house of Israel.

Jesse is introduced in the biblical books of Samuel as the father of eight sons, although the genealogy in Chronicles presents the family details somewhat differently. The prophet Samuel visited Jesse’s household when God directed him to anoint a future king. David, the youngest son, was initially tending sheep and was not considered the obvious candidate by his family.

David is often called “the son of Jesse,” a phrase that became a familiar biblical title for him. Jesse’s importance therefore extends beyond being David’s parent: he is the family patriarch of the Davidic dynasty. Christian tradition also connects Jesse’s line with Jesus, producing the artistic theme known as the Tree of Jesse.

A common mix-up is confusing Jesse with Obed. Obed was Jesse’s father, while Boaz was Jesse’s grandfather through Ruth. David was Jesse’s son, not his brother or father.