Did David have Red Hair?

A Study of Interest.

David in the Hebrew Bible is described as "admoni." Esau is also described the same way.

We looked through a list of more than 100 translations and they nearly all translated "admoni" as meaning "ruddy"  though some said "red," or 'reddish.' The word "ruddy" is generally taken to connote rosy cheeks or something like that.
Some of the commentaries on the word "ruddy" suggested that as well as rosy cheeks it also could indicate red hair.

Simple Hebrew however indicates that "admoni" means red-haired.

Genesis (NASB) 25:
24 WHEN HER DAYS LEADING TO THE DELIVERY WERE AT AN END, BEHOLD, THERE WERE TWINS IN HER WOMB. 25 NOW THE FIRST CAME OUT RED, ALL OVER LIKE A HAIRY GARMENT; AND THEY NAMED HIM ESAU.

Here the word translated as "red" is "admoni." It means red or reddish and refers primarily to hair color. he was covered all over with red hair.

The Anointing of David:

1-Samuel (NASB) 16:
11 THEN SAMUEL SAID TO JESSE, ARE THESE ALL THE BOYS? AND HE SAID, THE YOUNGEST IS STILL LEFT, BUT BEHOLD, HE IS TENDING THE SHEEP. SO SAMUEL SAID TO JESSE, SEND WORD AND BRING HIM; FOR WE WILL NOT TAKE OUR PLACES AT THE TABLE UNTIL HE COMES HERE.
12 SO HE SENT WORD AND BROUGHT HIM IN. NOW HE WAS REDDISH, WITH BEAUTIFUL EYES AND A HANDSOME APPEARANCE. AND THE LORD SAID, ARISE, ANOINT HIM; FOR THIS IS HE. 13 SO SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BROTHERS; AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD RUSHED UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. AND SAMUEL SET OUT AND WENT TO RAMAH.

The word translated as "reddish" in Hebrew is "admoni." The NASB has a note (g) 1 Samuel 16:12 i.e., of reddish hair or skin.

 It means red-haired.


1-Samuel (NASB) 17:42 WHEN THE PHILISTINE LOOKED AND SAW DAVID, HE WAS CONTEMPTUOUS OF HIM; FOR HE WAS ONLY A YOUTH, AND REDDISH, WITH A HANDSOME APPEARANCE.

The word translated as "reddish" is the same word "ADMONI" we saw in the previous examples. It means "red-haired."
If it meant rosy cheeks it would not have to add "WITH A HANDSOME APPEARANCE."

Red-hair stands out. Rosy cheeks do not. When  was the last time you noticed whether someone had rosy cheeks or non-rosy ones?

Against the understanding that David had red-hair is sometimes quoted the Song of Solomon 5:10.

Song of Solomon (NASB) 5:
10 MY BELOVED IS DAZZLING AND REDDISH,
OUTSTANDING AMONG TEN THOUSAND.
11 HIS HEAD IS LIKE GOLD, PURE GOLD;
HIS LOCKS ARE LIKE CLUSTERS OF DATES
AND BLACK AS A RAVEN.
12 HIS EYES ARE LIKE DOVES
BESIDE STREAMS OF WATER,
BATHED IN MILK,
AND PERCHED IN THEIR SETTING.

The first verse,  "MY BELOVED IS DAZZLING AND REDDISH," in Hebrew says "Tsach ve-Edom" meaning "WHITE AND RED" cf. KJB "My beloved is white and ruddy."
It says: His head is like pure gold and his locks are black as raven.
This would indicate "black hair", would it not?
Yes, black hair and a golden reddish blond beard would fit the description very well. Egyptian depictions of people from the area of Israel often show individuals of such an appearance, peoplke with black hair and blond or reddish beards.
I myself in younger days was blond, or reddish-blond. My father however  had dark brown (actually black) hair and a reddish beard when he grew it.

cf. 12 HIS EYES ARE LIKE DOVES, could also indicate grey eyes.

According to the simple literal meaning David had red hair.
David belonged to the Tribe of Judah.
Joseph was described as being white like a "Germani" (Midrash Breishit Rabah 86:3)  i.e. like someone from the north of Europe.
The Tribes of Levi and Simeon were punished by having many "Bohakanim" (Midrash Breishit Rabah 98:5)  i.e.  albinoid, very white, types among them who would not be able to hide their emotions.
On the other hand a Mishna (Negaim 2:1) says that the Children of Israel are not white like a Germani nor black like a Cushi (dark Central African) but intermediate. This Mishna however was apparently referring to Jews in the Land of Israel in the 100s CE.
At all events, ancient Egyptian illustrations of people from the area of Israel show both quite dark types alongside blond and redhaired ones.

Present day Religious Jews and Jews in general are on the whole often of Mediterranean type appearances. Nevertheless, blonds and red-heads are also found among them.

David is understood to have had red hair.

An excavation of a synagogue from Roman Times in Gaza (Jews used to live there) shows a depiction of David with what appears to be red hair.
Most illustrations of David in story books published in Israel today depict him as having red hair. This applies especially to books published by Relgious  Jews though it is also found among the others.