1 Samuel · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
1 Samuel 20 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it [is] not [so].
2 He said to him, “Far from it; you will not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me. Why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”
3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death.
3 David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do [it] for thee.
4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”
5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.
5 David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked [leave] of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem, his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’
7 If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined by him.
7 If he says, ‘It is well,’ your servant shall have peace; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you; but if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”
9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?”
10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”
11 ¶ And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
11 Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.
12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, [or] the third [day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
12 Jonathan said to David, “By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, won’t I then send to you and disclose it to you?
13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
13 Yahweh do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you as he has been with my father.
14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
14 You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die;
15 But [also] thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
15 but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, [saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David’s enemies.
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
17 Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19 And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was [in hand], and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
19 When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel.
20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof], as though I shot at a mark.
20 I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.
21 And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for [there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth.
21 Behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;’ then come, for there is peace to you and no danger, as Yahweh lives.
22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
22 But if I say this to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away.
23 And [as touching] the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD [be] between thee and me for ever.
23 Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.”
24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
24 So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon had come, the king sat himself down to eat food.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty.
25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely he [is] not clean.
26 Nevertheless Saul didn’t say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.”
27 And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
27 On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David’s place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why didn’t the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday, or today?”
28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Beth-lehem:
28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.
29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there:] and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
29 He said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
32 Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
33 Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
35 ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
35 In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. [And] as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
36 He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, [Is] not the arrow beyond thee?
37 When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
38 Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
39 But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city.
40 Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”
41 ¶ [And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
41 As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept with one another, and David wept the most.
42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
David
The shepherd who became Israel's greatest king and a man after God's own heart.
Cited in the guide: 1 Sam. 16 - 1 Kings 2; 2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 2:15; Matt. 1:6
Cross references (37)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 John 3:21; 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 24:9
- 2 John 17:8; 1 Samuel 9:15; Genesis 44:7; Joshua 22:29; 1 Samuel 14:45
- 3 Deuteronomy 6:13; 1 Samuel 27:1; 1 Samuel 25:26; 2 Kings 2:6; 1 Samuel 1:26
- 5 Numbers 10:10; 1 Samuel 19:2; Numbers 28:11; Psalm 81:3; Proverbs 22:3
- 6 1 Samuel 17:58; 1 Samuel 9:12; Deuteronomy 12:5; 1 Samuel 16:2–5; John 7:42
- 7 1 Samuel 25:17; Esther 7:7; Deuteronomy 1:23; 1 Samuel 20:9; 2 Samuel 17:4
- 8 1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel 14:32; 1 Samuel 23:18; 1 Samuel 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:17
- 9 1 Samuel 19:2; 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:38
- 10 1 Samuel 20:30–34; Proverbs 18:23; Genesis 42:30; 1 Kings 12:13; 1 Samuel 25:17
- 12 Proverbs 25:2–3; Psalm 139:1–4; Psalm 17:3; Job 31:4; Joshua 22:22
- 13 1 Chronicles 22:11; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 22:16; Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 17:37
- 14 2 Samuel 9:3; Ephesians 5:1–2
- 15 2 Samuel 21:7; 2 Samuel 9:1–7; 1 Samuel 24:21
- 16 1 Samuel 25:22; 1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel 4:7–8; 2 Samuel 21:8; Genesis 15:18
- 17 Proverbs 18:24; 1 Samuel 18:1; 1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel 1:26; Deuteronomy 13:6
- 18 1 Samuel 20:5; 1 Samuel 20:25
- 19 1 Samuel 19:2; 1 Samuel 20:5
- 21 Jeremiah 4:2; Jeremiah 5:2; Amos 8:14; Jeremiah 12:16
- 22 1 Samuel 20:37
- 23 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:14–15; Genesis 31:50; Genesis 16:5
- 24 Isaiah 1:11–15; Proverbs 17:1; Psalm 50:16–21; Proverbs 21:3; Proverbs 15:17
- 25 1 Samuel 20:18; Judges 16:20
- 26 Leviticus 15:5; Leviticus 11:24; Leviticus 11:27; Leviticus 7:20–21; Leviticus 11:40
- 27 1 Samuel 19:15; Matthew 13:55; 1 Samuel 25:10; Isaiah 11:1–2; 1 Samuel 22:7–9
- 28 1 Samuel 20:6
- 29 1 Samuel 17:28
- 30 Proverbs 21:24; James 1:19–20; Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 19:12; Proverbs 15:2
- 31 1 Samuel 20:8; 1 Samuel 19:6; 1 Samuel 26:16; 1 Samuel 19:11–15; 2 Samuel 19:28
- 32 Matthew 27:23; 1 Samuel 19:5; Luke 23:22; Genesis 31:36; Proverbs 31:8–9
- 33 1 Samuel 20:7; 1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:10
- 34 Mark 3:5; Ephesians 4:26; Ecclesiastes 7:20
- 35 1 Samuel 20:19; 2 Samuel 20:5
- 36 1 Samuel 20:20–22
- 37 1 Samuel 20:22
- 38 Luke 17:31–32; Proverbs 6:4–5; Psalm 55:6–9; Matthew 24:16–18; Mark 13:14–16
- 41 Genesis 29:11; 1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel 19:39; 2 Samuel 9:6; 1 Samuel 10:1
- 42 1 Samuel 1:17; 1 Samuel 23:18; 1 Samuel 20:22–23; Numbers 6:26; Luke 7:50
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… have, between Me and you, or between Me and every living soul, and whatever suchlike expressions there are used, is found in the Greek to be, in the middle of Me and you, which is?na m?son. David also and Jonathan establish a sign between them, that they may not disagree with a difference of thought: and that which in Latin …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)