1 Samuel 20:18

1 Samuel 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

Context of 1 Samuel 20:18

16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. [He added,] “May the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies. [that is, hold them accountable for any harm they inflict on David].” 17Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself. Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon [festival], and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. 19When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day [when my father tried to kill you], and shall stay by the stone Ezel. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a target.

1 Samuel 20:18 word by word

וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן מָחָ֣ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִפְקַ֕דְתָּ כִּ֥י יִפָּקֵ֖ד מוֹשָׁבֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• To morrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
• the new moonחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · month: new moonH2320
• and thou shalt be missedפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: missingH6485
• because thy seatמוֹשָׁבmôshâb môshâb · seatH4186

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:18

• 1 Samuel 20:5David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon [observance], and I should sit at the table to eat [the sacrificial meal] with the king; but let me go, so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-23Verses 11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-22Jonathan's plan would allow David to get the message even if there could be no face-to-face meeting. The boy's presence reduced suspicion and gave Jonathan an excuse to go to the field. As it happened, only the boy went with Jonathan to the field. When the boy left, David could talk to Jonathan directly (1 Samuel 20:40–42).Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• New Moon
• Artillery
• Require
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)
• Month
• New; Newness
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary