1 Samuel 23:16 web — Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.

World English Bible

"Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God."

— 1 Samuel 23:16, World English Bible

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1 Samuel 23:16 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 23 — Context

13

Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. It was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.

14

David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand.

15

David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.

16

Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.

17

He said to him, "Don't be afraid; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows."

18

They both made a covenant before Yahweh: and David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house.

19

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?

1 Samuel 23:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 23:16 say?
1 Samuel 23:16 in the World English Bible reads: “Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.”
Where is 1 Samuel 23:16 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 23:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 16.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 23:16.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 23:16 in?
1 Samuel 23:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 23:16?
1 Samuel 23:16 reads (WEB): “Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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