Christianity
Islam
Judaism
David / Dawud / David HaMelech
The shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, celebrated for his defeat of Goliath and his composition of the Psalms. In Judaism and Christianity he is the ideal monarch from whose lineage the Messiah descends. In Islam, Dawud is a prophet-king gifted with the Zabur (Psalms) and the ability to forge iron — a unique blessing from God.
In Different Traditions
Christianity
David
- Role
- King of Israel; Psalmist; ancestor of Jesus; man after God's own heart
- Key Texts
- 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2; Psalms; Matthew 1:1; Acts 13:22
Islam
Dawud
- Role
- Prophet-king; recipient of the Zabur (Psalms); gifted with metalworking
- Key Texts
- Quran 2:251; 21:78–80; 34:10–11; 38:17–26
Judaism
David HaMelech
- Role
- Second King of Israel; author of Psalms; prototype of the Messiah
- Key Texts
- Shmuel Alef/Bet (1–2 Samuel); Tehillim (Psalms); Berakhot 3b