1 Samuel 23:16

1 Samuel 23:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
• New International Version (NIV)And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:16

14And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. 15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, 17saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” 18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

1 Samuel 23:16 word by word

וַיָּ֙קָם֙ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד חֹ֑רְשָׁה וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־יָד֖וֹ בֵּאלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• Andקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• cameהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• in Horeshחֹ֫רֶשׁchôresh · HoreshH2793
• and strengthenedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• his handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• in Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:16

• Deuteronomy 3:28But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”
• Nehemiah 2:18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.
• Job 4:3Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
• Job 16:5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
• Proverbs 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
• Ezekiel 13:22Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,
• Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
• 2 Timothy 2:1You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
• Hebrews 12:12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16And Jonathan - strengthened his hand in God - It is probable that there was always a secret intercourse between David and Jonathan, and that by this most trusty friend he was apprised of the various designs of Saul to take away his life. As Jonathan well knew that God had appointed David to the kingdom, he came now to encourage him to trust in the Most High, and to assure him that the hand of Saul should not prevail against him; and at this interview they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16A touching example of mutual fidelity between friends. The humility and unselfish love of Jonathan is apparent in 1 Samuel 23:17.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 David made no attempt against Saul; he kept God's way, waited God's time, and was content to secure himself in woods and wildernesses. Let it make us think the worse of this world, which often gives such bad treatment to its best men: let it make us long for that kingdom where goodness shall for ever be in glory, and holiness in honour. We find Jonathan comforting David. As a pious friend, he directed him to God, the Foundation of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Jonathan encouraged David because he knew God had chosen David to be king.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. Jonathan went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God--by the recollection of their mutual covenant. What a victory over natural feelings and lower considerations must the faith of Jonathan have won, before he could seek such an interview and give utterance to such sentiments! To talk with calm and assured confidence of himself and family being superseded by the man who was his friend by the bonds of a holy and solemn covenant…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 23:16

• Communion
• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Malice

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• Jonathan
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Town
• Hand
• Jonathan (2)
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings