One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show 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?”
- 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?
- 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?”
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 20:42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.
- Mark 9:41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
- Matt 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- 1 Pet 3:8Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender hearted, courteous,
- 2 Sam 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
- 1 Kgs 2:7But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
- Matt 10:42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”
- Prov 27:10Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.
- John 19:26–27Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
- 1 Sam 20:14–17You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die;
- 1 Sam 23:16–18Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
- 1 Sam 18:1–4When he had finished speaking to Saul, 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 beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but 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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