Berean Standard Bible
1 Samuel 23:17
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.”
1 Samuel 23:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
- New International Version (NIV)“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.”
Context of 1 Samuel 23:17
15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, saying, “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. 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
Read all of 1 Samuel 231 Samuel 23:17 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו אַל־תִּירָ֗א כִּ֠י לֹ֤א תִֽמְצָאֲךָ֙ יַ֚ד שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֔י וְאַתָּה֙ תִּמְלֹ֣ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָנֹכִ֖י אֶֽהְיֶה־לְּךָ֣ לְמִשְׁנֶ֑ה וְגַם־שָׁא֥וּל אָבִ֖י יֹדֵ֥עַ כֵּֽן׃Read the interlinear
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- sayingאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Do notאַל'al · notH408
- be afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- forכִּיkîy · forH3588
- my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- will neverלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- lay a hand onמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- youיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- And youאַתָּ֫ה'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.s.)H859
- will be kingמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- overעַל‛al · uponH5921
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and I willאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
- beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- second-in-commandמִשְׁנֶהmishneh · secondH4932
- Evenגַּםgam · alsoH1571
- knowsיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- this is trueכֵּןkên · soH3651
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:17
- Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Hebrews 13:6So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- Job 5:11He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.
- Psalms 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 14:26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
- Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
- Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Acts 28:16When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
- Romans 15:24I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
- 1 Samuel 20:31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
- 1 Samuel 24:20Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
- Acts 5:39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:17
- 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. 17you will be king … I will be your second-in-command (literally second to you): Jonathan accepted that God chose David as king and gave up his own ambitions to be king. Jonathan never held an official role in David’s court and died in battle with his father (1 Samuel 31:2).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 23:17
In the dictionaries
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
Berean Standard Bible — © Berean Bible — CC0 / Public Domain
Commentaries