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 Living Translation (NLT)Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:16

14And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. 15So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 17And 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.” 18So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

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 3:28But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’
• Nehemiah 2:18And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.
• Job 4:3Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
• Job 16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
• Proverbs 27:9Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
• Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
• Ezekiel 13:22“Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.
• Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power 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 which hang down, and the feeble 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
• 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