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?
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?”
- BSB Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 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, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
- Mark 9:41For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
- Matt 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- 1 Pet 3:8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
- 2 Sam 1:26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
- 1 Kgs 2:7But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
- Matt 10:42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
- Prov 27:10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
- John 19:26–27When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
- 1 Sam 20:14–17And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
- 1 Sam 23:16–18And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
- 1 Sam 18:1–4And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- Phlm 1:9–12Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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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