God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 23:17
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.”
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 afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. 16Saul’s son Jonathan came to David at Horesh. He strengthened David’s ⌞faith⌟ in the Lord. “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. 19Then the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding with us in fortified camps at Horesh on the hills 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 41:10Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.
- Hebrews 13:6So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mortals do to me?”
- Job 5:11He places lowly people up high. He lifts those who mourn to safety.
- Psalms 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The Lord is my life’s fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?
- Psalms 46:1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 91:1Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 14:26In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have a place of refuge.
- Isaiah 54:17No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants. Their victory comes from me,” declares the Lord.
- Luke 12:32Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
- Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the Lord will endure.
- Acts 28:16After our arrival, Paul was allowed to live by himself, but he had a soldier who guarded him.
- Romans 15:24Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain.
- 1 Samuel 20:31As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!”
- 1 Samuel 24:20Now I know that you certainly will rule as king, and under your guidance the kingdom of Israel will prosper.
- Acts 5:39However, if it’s from God, you won’t be able to stop them. You may even discover that you’re 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
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