1 Samuel 20:41

1 Samuel 20:41 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.
• New King James Version (NKJV)As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.

Context of 1 Samuel 20:41

39But the boy was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter. 40Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.” As soon as the boy was gone, David got up from the south side [beside the mound of stones] and fell on his face to the ground [in submission and respect], and bowed three times. Then they kissed one another and wept together, but David wept more. 42Jonathan told David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and yours forever.’ ” Then he stood and left, while Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:41 word by word

הַנַּעַר֮ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד קָ֚ם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• as soon as the ladנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• was goneבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• towardאֵ֫צֶל'êtsel · besideH681
• the southנֶ֫גֶבnegeb · southH5045
• and fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• on his faceאַף'aph · faceH639
• to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and bowedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• himself threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• timesפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
• and they kissedנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401
• oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• anotherרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• and weptבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
• exceededגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:41

• 1 Samuel 25:23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from the donkey, and kneeled face downward before David and bowed down to the ground [in respect].
• Genesis 43:28And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed down [their heads before Joseph] in respect.
• 2 Samuel 9:6Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
• 1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the Lord not anointed you as ruler over His inheritance (Israel)?
• Genesis 29:11Then Jacob kissed Rachel [in greeting], and he raised his voice and wept.
• Genesis 45:15He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.
• 2 Samuel 19:39So all the people crossed over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.
• Acts 20:37And they began to weep openly and threw their arms around Paul’s neck, and repeatedly kissed him,
• 1 Samuel 18:3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
• 2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a good friend to me. Your love toward me was more wonderful Than the love of women.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:41

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 41Until David exceeded - David's distress must, in the nature of things, be the greatest. Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion. Saul saw David's growing popularity, and was convinced of his own maladministration. He did not humble himself before God, and therefore became a prey to envy, pride, jealousy…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 41A place toward the south - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David‘s hiding-place in 1 Samuel 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has “argab,” a word meaning a “heap of stones.” If this be the true reading, David‘s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called “Argab,” or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place. Bowed himself three times - In token, doubtless, of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-42Verses 35-42 The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 41David … bowed: Jonathan had a higher social rank, making David's gesture appropriate. he and Jonathan … wept: For the first time in the story, the text shows that both men openly shared their grief (see 1 Samuel 18:1, 3–4; 20:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 41-4241-42. David ... fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times--a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:41

• Arrow
• Weeping

In the dictionaries

• David
• Artillery
• Require
• Adoration
• Attitudes
• Exceed; Exceeding; Exceedingly
• Ezel
• Gesture
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)

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