1 Samuel 23 (KJV)
Read 1 Samuel chapter 23 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
1 Samuel 23
Explore Topics Related to 1 Samuel 23
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Commentary
2 Samuel 7:28 Commentary
In-depth study • God's Faithful Promises
Devotional
Isaiah 46:4 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Faithfulness Through Life
Promise
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
Character
Samuel in the Bible
The Last Judge
Verses About
Bible Verses About God's Faithfulness
10 curated KJV verses
Verses About
Bible Verses About God's Faithfulness in Trials
10 curated KJV verses
1 Samuel 23 Summary
1 Samuel 23 records David rescuing the town of Keilah from the Philistines, then learning through the ephod that Keilah's citizens would betray him to Saul. David fled to the wilderness of Ziph, where Jonathan visited him for the last time, strengthening his faith.
The chapter beautifully illustrates the value of faithful friendship. Jonathan 'strengthened David's hand in God' — encouraging him in his darkest hour. Meanwhile, David consistently sought God's guidance through the priest Abiathar.
Key Themes
Seeking God's GuidanceFaithful FriendshipBetrayal and LoyaltyWilderness Faith
Key Verses in 1 Samuel 23
"And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God."
— 1 Samuel 23:16
True friendship strengthens you spiritually. Jonathan didn't just comfort David — he pointed him to God.
Life Application
Be a Jonathan to someone today. The greatest gift you can give a struggling friend is to strengthen their hand in God — not just emotional comfort, but faith-building encouragement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would Keilah betray David?
Despite David saving them, the citizens feared Saul's retaliation more than they valued David's protection. Self-preservation overcame gratitude.
Was this Jonathan and David's last meeting?
Yes — this wilderness meeting was their final recorded encounter before Jonathan's death on Mount Gilboa, making his encouragement all the more poignant.
Free Bible widgets and more ways to read
Free widgets
- All widgetsDirectory of every free Bible widget with copy-paste embed code and theme options.
- Church website widgetsAll three free widgets in one place, with use-cases and install guides.
- Bible verse widgetA fresh KJV verse of the day on your homepage — one line of HTML.
- Daily devotion widgetA KJV passage plus a short reflection that changes every morning.
- Bible quiz widgetAn embeddable Bible trivia quiz for church, school and youth sites.
- Notion Bible widgetStep-by-step guide to embedding a KJV verse, devotion, or quiz in Notion.
- Widget gallerySee every theme, size and language side by side before you embed.
- Widget builderPick the verse, theme and width, then copy your embed code.
- Widget usage statsLive numbers on how many sites are serving Scripture with our widgets.
Read and study
- Read the KJV Bible onlineFree chapter-by-chapter reader, no signup, works on any device.
- Bible reading plansStructured plans from 7 days to the whole Bible in a year.
- Bible quizzesHundreds of KJV quiz questions by book, theme and difficulty.
- Bible trivia questionsPrintable trivia with answers for groups, kids and small groups.