1 Samuel 20:21

1 Samuel 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and there I will send a lad, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to the lad, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come’—then, as the Lord lives, there is safety for you and no harm.

Context of 1 Samuel 20:21

19When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger. 22But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away. 23And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

1 Samuel 20:21 word by word

וְהִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ מְצָ֣א אֶת־הַחִצִּ֑ים אִם־אָמֹר֩ אֹמַ֨ר לַנַּ֜עַר הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֣ים׀ מִמְּךָ֣ וָהֵ֗נָּה קָחֶ֧נּוּ׀ וָבֹ֛אָה כִּֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֛ וְאֵ֥ין דָּבָ֖ר חַי־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Thenהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• I will sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• a boyנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• Goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• findמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• the arrowsחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
• Now, ifאִם'im · ifH518
• I expressly sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• are on this sideהֵ֫נָּהhênnâh · here/thusH2008
• of youמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• bring themלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• then comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• as surely as the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• livesחַיchay · aliveH2416
• it is safeשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peace: well-beingH7965
• and there is noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• dangerדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:21

• Jeremiah 4:2and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
• Jeremiah 5:2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”
• Jeremiah 12:16And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people.
• Amos 8:14Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:21

• 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 20:21

• 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