Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

1 Samuel 23:16

in 1 Samuel 23

And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

KJV

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

⋯

This verse in 1 Samuel 23

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

And Jonathan - strengthened his hand in God - It is probable that there was always a secret intercourse between David and Jonathan, and that by this most trusty friend he was apprised of the various designs of Saul to take away his life.

This site's exposition

strengthened his hand in God

on 1 Samuel 23:16-18

Their covenant renews what they swore at 18:3 and 20:16 to 17. Jonathan's word that David will be king and he second-in-command shows that the king's son accepted where the throne was going. Henry reads it as what Jonathan wished rather than could expect, since the two never meet again.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Samuel · Written before 735.

proposed

And Jonathan, the son of Saul, arose and went to David, etc. And the dove-like and simple spirit of the elect, progressing amid the adversities of persecutions, often called to the grace of faith from the very number of the persecutors, approached Christ with steps …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

And strengthened - He comforted and supported him against all his fears, by minding him of God's infallible promises made to him, and his singular providence which hitherto had and still would be with him.
And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A touching example of mutual fidelity between friends. The humility and unselfish love of Jonathan is apparent in 1Sa 23:17.

The words behind it

12 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיָּ֙קָם֙and he arose

    vaiyakomH6965 →628 times

  • יְהוֹנָתָ֣ןJonathan

    yehonatanH3083 →81 times

  • בֶּן־[the] son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • שָׁא֔וּלSaul

    shaulH7586 →402 times

  • וַיֵּ֥לֶךְand he went

    vaiyelekhH1980 →1546 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • דָּוִ֖דDavid

    davidH1732 →999 times

  • חֹ֑רְשָׁהHoresh

    choreshahH2793 →7 times

  • וַיְחַזֵּ֥קand he strengthened

    vaychazekH2388 →291 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • יָד֖וֹhand his

    yadoH3027 →1618 times

  • בֵּאלֹהִֽים׃in God

    belohimH430 →2601 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Isaiah 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!205 worksHebrews 12:12–13Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.196 worksJob 4:3–4Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.138 works2 Timothy 2:1You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.103 worksEphesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.96 worksLuke 22:32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”77 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Samuel 30:6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.74 worksLuke 22:43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.70 worksNehemiah 2:18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.66 worksProverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.59 worksProverbs 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.55 worksDeuteronomy 3:28But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”48 worksEcclesiastes 4:9–12Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.47 worksJob 16:5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.35 worksEzekiel 13:22Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,20 worksProverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.4 works2 Samuel 1:26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.4 worksEcclesiastes 4:10For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Corinthians 16:13

      Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Isaiah 40:31

      But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

    • Joshua 1:9

      Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    • 1 Peter 5:10

      And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…

  • Through

    2 Timothy 2:1

    You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

      But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…

    • Ephesians 6:10

      Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

    • 2 Timothy 1:7

      For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Samuel

Anointing of David by Samuel, Félix-Joseph Barrias, 1842, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris. Public domain.
Anointing of David by Samuel, Félix-Joseph Barrias, 1842, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris. Public domain.
1 Samuel: the study guide →Read 1 Samuel 23 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Samuel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Samuel 23 →