1 Samuel 23:17 nasb — Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over…

NASB

"Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.""

— 1 Samuel 23:17, NASB

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1 Samuel 23:17 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 23 — Context

14

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

15

Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16

And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.

17

Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also."

18

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

19

Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20

"Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand."

1 Samuel 23:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 23:17 say?
1 Samuel 23:17 in the NASB reads: “Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also."”
Where is 1 Samuel 23:17 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 23:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 17.
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 23:17.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 23:17 in?
1 Samuel 23:17 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 23:17?
1 Samuel 23:17 reads (NASB): “Thus he said to him, "Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also."” 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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