Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 1:22

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.

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.
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.
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 Then David made this song of grief for Saul and Jonathan, his son: 18 (It is recorded in the book of Jashar for teaching to the sons of Judah) and he said: 19 The glory, O Israel, is dead on your high places! How have the great ones been made low! 20 Give no news of it in Gath, let it not be said in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, the daughters of men without circumcision will be uplifted in joy. 21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, you fields of death: for there the arms of the strong have been shamed, the arms of Saul, as if he had not been marked with the holy oil. 22 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. 23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and pleasing; in their lives and in their death they were not parted; they went more quickly than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 24 O daughters of Israel, have sorrow for Saul, by whom you were delicately clothed in robes of red, with ornaments of gold on your dresses. 25 How have the great ones been made low in the fight! Jonathan is dead on your high places. 26 I am full of grief for you, my brother Jonathan: very dear have you been to me: your love for me was a wonder, greater 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
And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the arch of heaven, for a division between the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for marking the changes of the year, and for days and for years:
Genesis 1:28
And God gave them his blessing and said to them, Be fertile and have increase, and make the earth full and be masters of it; be rulers over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing moving on the earth.
Genesis 8:17
Take out with you every living thing which is with you, birds and cattle and everything which goes on the earth, so that they may have offspring and be fertile and be increased on the earth.
Genesis 9:1
And God gave his blessing to Noah and his sons, and said, Be fertile, and have increase, and make the earth full.
Genesis 30:27
And Laban said, If you will let me say so, do not go away; for I have seen by the signs that the Lord has been good to me because of you.
Genesis 30:30
For before I came you had little, and it has been greatly increased; and the Lord has given you a blessing in everything I have done; but when am I to do something for my family?
Genesis 35:11
And God said to him, I am God, the Ruler of all: be fertile, and have increase; a nation, truly a group of nations, will come from you, and kings will be your offspring;
Leviticus 26:9
And I will have pleasure in you and make you fertile and greater in number; and I will keep my agreement with you.
Job 40:15
See now the Great Beast, whom I made, even as I made you; he takes grass for food, like the ox.

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile