1 Samuel 20:22

1 Samuel 20:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the Lord has sent you away.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if I say thus to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you’—go your way, for the Lord has sent you away.

Context of 1 Samuel 20:22

20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a target. 21And I will send a boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come [back to my father’s table]; for it is safe for you and there is no danger, as the Lord lives. But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever [making sure that we each keep our word].” 24So David hid in the field; and when the New Moon [festival] came, the king sat down to eat food.

1 Samuel 20:22 word by word

וְאִם־כֹּ֤ה אֹמַר֙ לָעֶ֔לֶם הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֖ים מִמְּךָ֣ וָהָ֑לְאָה לֵ֕ךְ כִּ֥י שִֽׁלַּחֲךָ֖ יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But if I sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• thus unto the young manעֶ֫לֶם‛elem · youthH5958
• Behold, the arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• beyondהָֽ֫לְאָהhâle'âh · furtherH1973
• thee; go thy wayיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• for the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• hath sent thee awayשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:22

• 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

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:22

• Arrow
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

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

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