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 stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand him over to him. 15Now David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph, at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, set out and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God. 17He said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel, and I will be second in command to you; and Saul my father knows that as well.” 18So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; and David stayed at Horesh, while Jonathan went to his house.

1 Samuel 23:16 word by word

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

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• setקָמָיqûm · (Leb)-kamaiH6965
• and wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• at Horeshחֹ֫רֶשׁchôresh · HoreshH2793
• encouragedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
• encouragedיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• him in Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:16

• Deuteronomy 3:28But commission Joshua and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go across leading this people, and he will give to them, as an inheritance, the land which you will see.’
• Nehemiah 2:18And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let’s arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.
• Job 4:3Behold, you have taught many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
• Job 16:5Or I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the condolence of my lips could lessen your pain.
• Proverbs 27:9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the exhausted, and make the feeble strong.
• Ezekiel 13:22Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him pain, but you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way to keep him alive,
• Luke 22:32but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
• 2 Timothy 2:1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
• Hebrews 12:12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

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