Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Easy-to-Read Version

2 Samuel 1:22

Jonathan's bow killed its share of enemies, and Saul's sword killed its share! They have spilled the blood of men now dead. They cut into the fat of strong men.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Elegy;   Friendship;   Jonathan;   Mourning;   Poetry;   Song;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Saul;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Funeral;   Jonathan;   Saul, king of israel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Friend, Friendship;   Funeral;   Psalms, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   David;   Gilboa;   Jasher;   Jonathan;   Lamentation;   Lamentations, Book of;   Poetry;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Arms;   David;   Fat;   Jasher;   Jonathan;   Lamentations;   Psalms;   Samuel, the Books of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Book(s);   Burial;   Gilboa;   Music, Instruments, Dancing;   Poetry;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Jashar, Book of;   Mourning Customs;   Samuel, Books of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mount gilboa;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dwelling;   Jonathan;   Scripture;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fat;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - David;   Empty;   Jonathan (2);   Psalms, Book of;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Archer, Archery;   Army;   Athletes, Athletics, and Field-Sports;   David;   Funeral Oration;   Jonathan, Jehonathan;   Poetry;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jonathan’s bow never retreated,Saul’s sword never returned unstained,from the blood of the slain,from the flesh of the mighty.
Hebrew Names Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Yonatan didn't turn back, The sword of Sha'ul didn't return empty.
King James Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Lexham English Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return without effect.
English Standard Version
"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
New Century Version
Jonathan's bow did not fail to kill many soldiers. Saul's sword did not fail to wound many strong men.
New English Translation
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty.
Amplified Bible
"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
New American Standard Bible
"From the blood of those slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return unstained.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The bow of Ionathan neuer turned backe, neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie from the blood of the slaine, and from the fatte of the mightie.
Legacy Standard Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
Contemporary English Version
The arrows of Jonathan struck, and warriors died. The sword of Saul cut the enemy apart.
Complete Jewish Bible
"From the blood of the dead, from the flesh of heroes, the bow of Y'honatan did not retreat or the sword of Sha'ul return unsatisfied.
Darby Translation
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.
George Lamsa Translation
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Good News Translation
Jonathan's bow was deadly, the sword of Saul was merciless, striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.
Literal Translation
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn the back; and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The bowe of Ionathas fayled not, and the swerde of Saul came not agayne voyde from the bloude of the slayne, and fro the fat of the giauntes.
American Standard Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Bible in Basic English
From the blood of the dead, from the fat of the strong, the bow of Jonathan was not turned back, the sword of Saul did not come back unused.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The bowe of Ionathan neuer turned backe, neither did the sword of Saul returne emptie fro the blood of the slayne, and from the fat of the mightie.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
King James Version (1611)
From the blood of the slaine, from the fat of the mightie, the bow of Ionathan turned not backe, and the sword of Saul returned not emptie.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
From the blood of the slain, and from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan returned not empty; and the sword of Saul turned not back empty.
English Revised Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Berean Standard Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Of the blood of slayn men, of the fatnesse of strong men, the arewe of Jonathas yede neuer abak, and the swerd of Saul turnede not ayen void.
Young's Literal Translation
From the blood of the wounded, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward; And the sword of Saul doth not return empty.
Update Bible Version
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan didn't turn back, And the sword of Saul didn't return empty.
Webster's Bible Translation
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
World English Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan didn't turn back, The sword of Saul didn't return empty.
New King James Version
From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
New Living Translation
The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
New Life Bible
The bow of Jonathan did not turn away. The sword of Saul did not return empty. They did not turn from the blood of the dead and the fat of the powerful.
New Revised Standard
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan ne'er drew back, - and, the sword of Saul, ne'er returned, empty.
Douay-Rheims Bible
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the valiant, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
Revised Standard Version
"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
THE MESSAGE
Jonathan's bow was bold— the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul's sword was fearless— once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

Contextual Overview

17 David sang a sad song about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 David told his men to teach the song to the people of Judah. This song is called "The Bow," and it is written in the Book of Jashar. 19 "Israel, your beauty was ruined on your hills. Oh, how those heroes fell! 20 Don't tell the news in Gath. Don't announce it in the streets of Ashkelon. Those Philistine cities would be happy! Those foreigners would be glad. 21 "May no rain or dew fall on you, mountains of Gilboa. May there be no offerings coming from your fields. The shields of the heroes rusted there. Saul's shield was not rubbed with oil. 22 Jonathan's bow killed its share of enemies, and Saul's sword killed its share! They have spilled the blood of men now dead. They cut into the fat of strong men. 23 "Saul and Jonathan—how dear they were to us! In life they loved being together, and even death did not separate them! They were faster than eagles and stronger than lions. 24 Daughters of Israel, cry for Saul! Saul gave you beautiful red dresses and covered them with gold jewelry! 25 "Strong men have fallen in the battle. Jonathan is dead on Gilboa's hills. 26 Jonathan, my brother, I miss you! I enjoyed your friendship so much. Your love for me was wonderful, stronger than the love of women.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the bow: 1 Samuel 14:6-14, 1 Samuel 18:4, Isaiah 34:6, Isaiah 34:7

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 17:17 - armed men Jeremiah 50:9 - none

Cross-References

Genesis 1:13
There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the third day.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the sky. These lights will separate the days from the nights. They will be used for signs to show when special meetings begin and to show the days and years.
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Genesis 8:17
Bring every living animal out of the boat with you—all the birds, animals, and everything that crawls on the earth. These animals will make many more animals, and they will fill the earth again."
Genesis 9:1
God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Have many children. Fill the earth with your people.
Genesis 30:27
Laban said to him, "Please, let me say something. I know that the Lord has blessed me because of you.
Genesis 30:30
When I came, you had little. Now you have much, much more. Every time I did something for you, the Lord blessed you. Now it is time for me to work for myself—it is time to do things for my family."
Genesis 35:11
God said to him, "I am God All-Powerful, and I give you this blessing: Have many children and grow into a great nation. Other nations and other kings will come out of you.
Leviticus 26:9
"Then I will turn to you. I will let you have many children. I will keep my agreement with you.
Job 40:15
"Look at the behemoth. I made the behemoth, and I made you. He eats grass like a cow.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back,.... That is, it always did execution, the arrows shot frown it pierced into men, shed their blood, and slew them; even they entered into the fat of the mighty, or mighty ones, that were fat, and brought them down; so the arrows of the Medes and Persians, the expert men among them, are said not to return in vain, Jeremiah 50:9;

and the sword of Saul returned not empty; but was the means of slaying many; though Abarbinel observes also that this may be interpreted of the blood of the slain, and of the fat of the mighty men of Israel; and that though Saul and Jonathan saw many of these fall before their eyes, yet "for" or "because" of their blood, they were not intimidated and restrained from fighting; the bow of the one, and the shield of the other, turned not back on that account.


 
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