English Standard Version
1 Samuel 19:4
4And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.
1 Samuel 19:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
- New International Version (NIV)Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could.
Context of 1 Samuel 19:4
2And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you." And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?" 6And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death."
Read all of 1 Samuel 191 Samuel 19:4 word by word
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן בְּדָוִד֙ ט֔וֹב אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָיו אַל־יֶחֱטָ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ בְּעַבְדּ֣וֹ בְדָוִ֗ד כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא חָטָא֙ לָ֔ךְ וְכִ֥י מַעֲשָׂ֖יו טוֹב־לְךָ֥ מְאֹֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
- spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- unto Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- his fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Let not the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- against thee, and because his worksמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deedH4639
- to thee-ward veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 19:4
- 1 Samuel 20:32Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"
- 1 Samuel 22:13And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"
- Proverbs 24:11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
- Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
- Jeremiah 18:20Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
- 1 Samuel 2:25If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
- Genesis 9:6"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
- Genesis 42:22And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood."
- 2 Chronicles 6:22"If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,
- 1 Corinthians 8:12Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
- 1 John 3:15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
- Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
- Psalms 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.
- Proverbs 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 19:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Jonathan spake good of David - It is evident that Jonathan was satisfied that David was an innocent man; and that his father was most unjustly incensed against him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Jonathan addressed his father as the king to show respect.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-74-7. Jonathan spake good of David--He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country and whose loyalty had been uniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his father. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he bound himself by an oath to relinquish his hostile purpose; and…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 19:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 19
- 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
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries