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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

2 Samuel 1:22

Jonathan's bow was deadly, the sword of Saul was merciless, striking down the mighty, killing the enemy.

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.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
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.
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 this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and ordered it to be taught to the people of Judah. (It is recorded in The book of Jashar.) 19 "On the hills of Israel our leaders are dead! The bravest of our soldiers have fallen! 20 Do not announce it in Gath or in the streets of Ashkelon. Do not make the women of Philistia glad; do not let the daughters of pagans rejoice. 21 "May no rain or dew fall on Gilboa's hills; may its fields be always barren! For the shields of the brave lie there in disgrace; the shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil. 22 Jonathan's bow was deadly, the sword of Saul was merciless, striking down the mighty, killing the enemy. 23 "Saul and Jonathan, so wonderful and dear; together in life, together in death; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. 24 "Women of Israel, mourn for Saul! He clothed you in rich scarlet dresses and adorned you with jewels and gold. 25 "The brave soldiers have fallen, they were killed in battle. Jonathan lies dead in the hills. 26 "I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan; how dear you were to me! How wonderful was your love for me, better even 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
Evening passed and morning came—that was the third day.
Genesis 1:14
Then God commanded, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin;
Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 8:17
Take all the birds and animals out with you, so that they may reproduce and spread over all the earth."
Genesis 9:1
God blessed Noah and his sons and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth.
Genesis 30:27
Laban said to him, "Let me say this: I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.
Genesis 30:30
The little you had before I came has grown enormously, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I went. Now it is time for me to look out for my own interests."
Genesis 35:11
And God said to him, "I am Almighty God. Have many children. Nations will be descended from you, and you will be the ancestor of kings.
Leviticus 26:9
I will bless you and give you many children; I will keep my part of the covenant that I made with you.
Job 40:15
Look at the monster Behemoth; I created him and I created 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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