1. Name and Meaning
• Name: Jesse (Hebrew: יִשַׁי, Yišay)
• Meaning: “Gift” or “God exists”; possibly related to yēsh (meaning “there is”) or derived from a root signifying possession or being

2. Genealogical Placement and Lineage Role
• Position: Thirty-second generation from Adam; twenty-second generation after the flood in the Messianic line
• Father: Obed – son of Boaz and Ruth
• Son: David – the greatest king of Israel and direct ancestor of Jesus Christ
• Lineage Role: Father of the Davidic dynasty; his house becomes the prophetic root of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1)

3. Life Summary and Historical Setting
• Lived in Bethlehem, in the tribe of Judah, during the early monarchy period
• Had eight sons, with David being the youngest (1 Samuel 16:10–13)
• Prominent yet humble figure; known primarily through the narrative of David’s anointing by Samuel
• His household becomes the foundational structure for the Davidic covenant

4. Theological and Christological Significance
• His name becomes symbolic of the Davidic and Messianic hope: “a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1)
• David’s selection from Jesse’s house underscores divine election, not human expectation
• Integral to both Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfilment in Jesus, who is repeatedly called the “Root of Jesse” (Romans 15:12)

5. Legacy and Interpretive Reflections
• Although not a major character, Jesse is honoured in biblical tradition for his fatherhood of David
• Frequently cited in royal and Messianic genealogies as the human point of origin for Israel’s kingly line
• Referenced in messianic prophecies and New Testament writings as a foundational figure in salvation history
• Represents the convergence of faithful lineage, covenant promise, and prophetic fulfilment

6. Summary Insight
• Jesse, though humble in narrative, stands as the divinely appointed father of Israel’s royal line—his legacy rooted in prophecy and fulfilled in Christ, the true Son of David.

7. Biblical References
• 1 Samuel 16–17
• Ruth 4:22
• 1 Chronicles 2:12–13
• Matthew 1:5–6
• Luke 3:32
• Isaiah 11:1
• Romans 15:12