1 Samuel 23:16

16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

1 Samuel 23:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
ESV
16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
NLT
16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
MSG
16 Jonathan, Saul's son, visited David at Horesh and encouraged him in God.
CSB
16 Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in [his faith in] God,

1 Samuel 23:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:16

And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose
And came from Gibeah, which, according to Bunting F15, was twenty two miles from the place where David was:

and went to David into the wood:
having had intelligence where he was, this being a proper place to have an interview with him privately:

and strengthened his hand in God;
and his heart too, his hand of faith to lay hold on God, as his covenant God and lean and rely upon him; he strengthened him in his power and in his providence, and in his promises to him; the Targum is,

``he strengthened him in the Word of the Lord;''

not only in his word and promise, but in Christ the essential Word of God, who should spring from him according to the flesh.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 Travels p. 334. (text not clear could be 834 or some other number)

1 Samuel 23:16 In-Context

14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.
16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.
17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”
18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1 Samuel 30:6; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 27:14
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.