1 Samuel 23:16
in 1 Samuel 23And 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.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 23
Commentary
3 notes on this verseAnd 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
This is the last recorded meeting between David and Jonathan, and the covenant the two make before the Lord in verse 18 renews what they had already sworn at 18:3 and again at 20:16-17, its third renewal in the book. Jonathan's word that David shall be king and he himself next to him is the clearest statement in the narrative that the king's own son understood and accepted where the throne was going. Matthew Henry reads it as what Jonathan wished rather than what he had ground to expect, since the two never meet again in the story that follows.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּ֙קָם֙ | vaiyakom | and he arose | H6965 → | 628 times |
| יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן | yehonatan | Jonathan | H3083 → | 81 times |
| בֶּן־ | ben- | [the] son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| שָׁא֔וּל | shaul | Saul | H7586 → | 402 times |
| וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ | vaiyelekh | and he went | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| דָּוִ֖ד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| חֹ֑רְשָׁה | choreshah | Horesh | H2793 → | 7 times |
| וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק | vaychazek | and he strengthened | H2388 → | 291 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יָד֖וֹ | yado | hand his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| בֵּאלֹהִֽים׃ | belohim | in God | H430 → | 2601 times |
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.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 6:10Finally, 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…
- Philippians 4:13
Through
2 Timothy 2:1You 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.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Samuel

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonUnited MonarchyDavidSecond king of united Israel, shepherd-turned-monarch, ancestor of the Messiah, and traditional author of many Psalms.
- PersonEarly monarchyJonathanSon of King Saul who climbed a cliff to rout a garrison on the conviction that nothing restrains Jehovah; cut a covenant of steadf…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
