And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, 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 ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
- Heb 12:12–13Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
- Job 4:3–4Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
- 2 Tim 2:1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Eph 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
- 1 Sam 30:6And 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 22:43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
- Neh 2:18Then 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.
- Prov 27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
- Prov 27:17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
- Deut 3:28But 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.
- Eccl 4:9–12Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
- Job 16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
- Ezek 13:22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.