Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 23:17
17saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it 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
15David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.” 18Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. 19Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- not: for the handיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- shall not findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- thee; and thou shalt be kingמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
- over Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and I shall be nextמִשְׁנֶהmishneh · secondH4932
- knowethיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
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 help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
- Hebrews 13:6Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Job 5:11He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety.
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — whom should I dread?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
- Psalms 91:1The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 14:26In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
- Luke 12:32Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.
- Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
- Acts 28:16When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
- Romans 15:24whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
- 1 Samuel 20:31Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me — he must die!”
- 1 Samuel 24:20“Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
- Acts 5:39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
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
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