Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
Parallel translations
- KJV And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
- BSB And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
- NKJV Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.
- NASB And Jonathan, Saul’s son, set out and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.
- NLT Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jonathan visits David in the woods and strengthens his hand in God.
Overview
Jonathan seeks out David in his hiding place and strengthens his hand in God, pointing him to the LORD as his true refuge. This act of covenant friendship encourages David's faith in a dark hour. Jonathan models how believers are to build one another up in God, fixing each other's hope on Him rather than circumstances.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
- Heb 12:12–13Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
- Job 4:3–4Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
- 2 Tim 2:1You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- Luke 22:32but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
- 1 Sam 30:6David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.
- Luke 22:43An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
- Neh 2:18I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
- Prov 27:9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
- Prov 27:17Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
- Deut 3:28But commission 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 shall see.”
- Eccl 4:9–12Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
- Job 16:5but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
- Ezek 13:22Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 23:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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