1 Samuel 23 · Verse 16

1 Samuel 23:16

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Samuel 23:16, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:16 in other translations

BSBAnd Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
WEBJonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
ASVAnd Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
YLTAnd Jonathan son of Saul riseth, and goeth unto David to the forest, and strengtheneth his hand in God,
DARBYAnd Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
BBEAnd Saul's son Jonathan went to David in Horesh, and made his hands strong in God;
WebsterAnd Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

What does 1 Samuel 23:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 23:16-17
16-17. 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 To talk with calm and assured confidence of himself and family being superseded by the man who was his friend by the bonds of a holy and solemn covenant, could only have been done by one who, superior to all views of worldly policy, looked at the course of things in the spirit and through the principles of that theocracy which acknowledged God as the only and supreme Sovereign of Israel. Neither history nor fiction depicts the movements of a friendship purer, nobler, and more self-denying than Jonathan's! 1Sa 23:19-29. Saul Pursues Him.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 And 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 renewed their covenant of friendship. Now all this Jonathan could do, consistently with his duty to his father and his king. He knew that David had delivered the kingdom; he saw that his father was ruling unconstitutionally; and he knew that God had appointed David to succeed Saul. This he knew would come about in the order of Providence; and neither he nor David took one step to hasten the time. Jonathan, by his several interferences, prevented his father from imbruing his hands in innocent blood: a more filial and a more loyal part he could not have acted; and therefore, in his attachment to David, he is wholly free of blame.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:14-18

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…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:14-18 →

1 Samuel 23:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּ֙קָם֙vai.Ya.komand he aroseH6965
יְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanJonathanH3083
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
אֶל\־'el-toH413
דָּוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
חֹ֑רְשָׁהCho.re.shahHoreshH2793
וַיְחַזֵּ֥קvay.cha.Zekand he strengthenedH2388
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
יָד֖וֹya.Dohand hisH3027
בֵּאלֹהִֽים\׃be.lo.Himin GodH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:16

  • Isaiah 35:3-4

    Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Hebrews 12:12-13

    Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

  • Job 4:3-4

    Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

  • 2 Timothy 2:1

    Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  • Luke 22:32

    But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

  • 1 Samuel 30:6

    And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

  • Luke 22:43

    And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

  • Nehemiah 2:18

    Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

  • Proverbs 27:9

    Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

  • Proverbs 27:17

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

  • Deuteronomy 3:28

    But charge 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 thou shalt see.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strengthened.
De 3:28; Ne 2:18; Job 4:3,4; 16:5; Pr 27:9,17; Ec 4:9-12
Isa 35:3,4; Eze 13:22; Lu 22:32,43; Eph 6:10; 2Ti 2:1
Heb 12:12,13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:15

    And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

  • 1 Samuel 23:16

    And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

  • 1 Samuel 23:17

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces se levantó Jonathán hijo de Saúl, y vino á David en el bosque, y confortó su mano en Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jonathan, fils de Saül, se leva et alla vers David dans le bois, et fortifia sa main en Dieu;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da machte sich Jonathan, der Sohn Sauls, auf und ging zu David in den Wald und stärkte seine Hand in Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et surrexit Jonathas filius Saul, et abiit ad David in silvam, et confortavit manus ejus in Deo: dixitque ei: