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

14David lived in fortified camps in the desert, and he lived in fortified camps in the mountains of the desert of Ziph. Saul was always searching for him, but God didn’t let him capture David. 15David was afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. Saul’s son Jonathan came to David at Horesh. He strengthened David’s ⌞faith⌟ in the Lord. 17“Don’t be afraid,” he told David, “my father Saul won’t find you. You will rule Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18Both of them made a pledge in the Lord’s presence. David stayed in Horesh, and 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• into the woodחֹ֫רֶשׁchôresh · HoreshH2793
• and strengthenedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
• his handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• in Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:16

• Deuteronomy 3:28Give instructions to Joshua. Encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people across ⌞the Jordan River⌟, and he will help them take possession of the land you see.”
• Nehemiah 2:18Then I told them that my God had been guiding me and what the king had told me. They replied, “Let’s begin to rebuild.” So they encouraged one another to begin this God-pleasing work.
• Job 4:3Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
• Job 16:5I could encourage you with my mouth, and my quivering lips could ease ⌞your pain⌟.
• Proverbs 27:9Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two people are better than one because ⌞together⌟ they have a good reward for their hard work.
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees.
• Ezekiel 13:22You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives.
• Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.”
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.
• 2 Timothy 2:1My child, find your source of strength in the kindness of Christ Jesus.
• Hebrews 12:12Strengthen your tired arms 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