Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
Parallel translations
- WEB David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- KJV And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
- NKJV Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- NASB Then David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, so that I could show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- NLT One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
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
David asked whether anyone of Saul's house remained, so he could show kindness for Jonathan's sake. His covenant loyalty reflects God's own faithful love.
Overview
Despite Saul's past hostility, David seeks to honor his covenant with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-17) by showing 'kindness' (chesed) to Saul's surviving family. In an age when new kings often eliminated rival dynasties, David's grace is remarkable. His covenant-keeping love mirrors God's steadfast kindness and pictures the gospel, where God seeks out the undeserving to bless them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Sam 20:42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
- Mark 9:41Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
- Matt 25:40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- 1 Pet 3:8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- 2 Sam 1:26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
- 1 Kgs 2:7But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
- Matt 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Prov 27:10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
- John 19:26–27When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
- 1 Sam 20:14–17And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
- 1 Sam 23:16–18And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
- 1 Sam 18:1–4After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
- Phlm 1:9–12I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 9:1 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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