1 Samuel 20:26

1 Samuel 20:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
• New International Version (NIV)Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.”

Context of 1 Samuel 20:26

24So David hid in the countryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal. 25He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty. Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean — yes, that’s it, he is unclean.” 27However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?” 28Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 20:26 word by word

וְלֹֽא־דִבֶּ֥ר שָׁא֛וּל מְא֖וּמָה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ מִקְרֶ֣ה ה֔וּא בִּלְתִּ֥י טָה֛וֹר ה֖וּא כִּֽי־לֹ֥א טָהֽוֹר׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nevertheless Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• not any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• for he thoughtאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Something hath befallenמִקְרֶהmiqreh · accidentH4745
• notבִּלְתִּיbiltîy · lestH1115
• cleanטָהוֹרţâhôr ţâhôr · pureH2889

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:26

• Leviticus 7:21If someone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, abhorrent creature, and eats meat from the Lord’s fellowship sacrifice, that person is to be cut off from his people.”
• Leviticus 11:24“These will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,
• Leviticus 15:5Anyone who touches his bed is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain unclean until evening.
• Numbers 19:16Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or who even touches a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:26

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26He is not clean - The new moon being a religious feast, and the meat to be eaten being peace-offerings, no one could assist at the feast who had any ceremonial uncleanness upon him (marginal references).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-34Verses 24-34 None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27A number of circumstances could render a person ceremonially unclean and thus unfit for attending a sacred festival (see Leviticus 7:2–21). Often, an unclean person was required to be excluded from such functions only until the evening of the same day (Leviticus 15). This explains why Saul became suspicious after David did not arrive the next day. Saul referred to David as the son of Jesse (also in 1 Samuel 20:31; 22:7), a description that functioned as…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. he is not clean--No notice was taken of David's absence, as he might be laboring under some ceremonial defilement.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:26

• Arrow
• Jealousy
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• That Day
• Artillery
• David
• Require
• Chance
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)
• Sacrifice

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