by Ram ben Ze'ev
Among the many legends that have taken root over the centuries concerning דוד המלך (King David), one of the most persistent is the claim that he was a redhead. This belief is often drawn from a single verse in שמואל א (Shmuel Alef) טז:יב, which describes דוד as:
והוא אדמני עם יפה עינים וטוב ראי
Many modern readers interpret אדמני (admoni) to mean “red-haired,” seizing on the root אדמ (“red”) and projecting the image of a fair-skinned, red-haired youth onto the future king of ישראל. But a closer look at the language, the tradition, and the historical context reveals a different—and far more accurate—picture.
Complexion, Not Hair
The word אדמני in Lashon HaKodesh does not refer to hair at all. It refers to skin tone or complexion. The best English equivalent is “ruddy”—a word that means a healthy, reddish glow in the face or skin, not hair. It is entirely possible, and in fact far more likely, that דוד had dark or black hair, as was typical among בני ישראל, but that his skin radiated a fiery strength and youthful vigour.
In contrast, the only other time the word אדמני is used in תנ״ך is in describing עשו, who is said to have been “אדמני כלו כאדרת שער”—explicitly covered in hair. That case does mention hair, while דוד’s description does not. The difference is significant. If the Torah had meant to describe דוד as having red hair, it would have said so—explicitly.
Genetics and Geography
Scientifically, red hair is extremely rare, found primarily among people of Celtic and Northern European descent. The MC1R gene mutation responsible for red hair is most concentrated in regions like Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia. Among Semitic peoples of the ancient Middle East—including those descended from אברהם, יצחק, and יעקב—this trait would have been virtually unheard of.
Some attempt to bridge this improbability by pointing to דוד’s great-grandmother, רות המואביה (Ruth the Moabite). As a convert from מואב, they argue, perhaps she carried a recessive gene responsible for red hair. However, even if one were to accept that possibility, the likelihood of a rare Northern European gene passing through three generations—רות to עובד, עובד to ישי, and then ישי to דוד—and then expressing itself visibly in דוד, is statistically remote. Moreover, מואב itself was a Semitic nation descended from לוט, and there is no evidence or tradition indicating that its population was genetically distinct enough to account for such traits.
Thus, while it is technically possible, it remains highly unlikely, and certainly not the peshat (plain meaning) of the text.
Why the Narrative Exists
The exaggeration of דוד as a redhead serves a purpose, but not a holy one. It is a foreign construction, an invention pushed by idolatrous traditions that seek to appropriate and redefine the identity of the House of David for their own ends. By painting דוד with traits foreign to ישראל, these systems subtly distance him from the authentic nation of ישראל and draw him closer to their own cultural imagery. In doing so, they attempt to muddy the waters, to reframe the story of מלכות ישראל in a way that better suits their theologies.
This is not a new tactic. Throughout history, those who oppose the truth of תורה have employed redefinition, substitution, and distortion to advance their narratives. This notion of דוד as a red-haired figure is no different. It distracts from his inner greatness, his unwavering emunah (faith), and his role as the servant of השם יתברך, focusing instead on superficial details that were never emphasised by our sages.
Another striking example of this distortion can be seen in the well-known statue of “David” sculpted by Michelangelo. This figure—often revered in Western art—is portrayed not only with the physique and features of a northern European, but also uncircumcised, in direct contradiction to Torah. Circumcision, the sign of the eternal covenant between ישראל and G-D, was observed without exception by the righteous. דוד המלך, the anointed king of ישראל, would never have abandoned such a commandment. This portrayal is no mere oversight; it reflects the deliberate reimagining of David to conform to foreign ideals, stripping him of his Jewish identity and remaking him in the image of nations that have historically sought to replace ישראל rather than uphold it.
A Fire Within
The description of דוד as אדמני is, in fact, a reflection of his inner fire, his spiritual passion, and his readiness to act when commanded by G-D. As חז״ל teach, while עשו’s redness was associated with uncontrolled bloodshed and evil, דוד’s fire was harnessed and directed by righteousness. His external glow mirrored the fervour within his soul, not the pigment of his hair.
Let us not allow foreign interpretations to colour our view of דוד המלך. He was a man of profound humility, fierce loyalty to G-D, and inner strength beyond measure. His appearance, if worthy of note, reflected these qualities—not borrowed features from northern lands.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue. Bill White also writes on Substack under the byline "Bill White Says..."