English Standard Version
1 Samuel 20:30
30Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?
1 Samuel 20:30 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
- New International Version (NIV)Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Saul’s anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?
Context of 1 Samuel 20:30
28Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table." Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." 32Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"
Read all of 1 Samuel 201 Samuel 20:30 word by word
וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף שָׁאוּל֙ בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בֶּֽן־נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־בֹחֵ֤ר אַתָּה֙ לְבֶן־יִשַׁ֔י לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁת עֶרְוַ֥ת אִמֶּֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- was kindledחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- against Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
- and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto him, Thou sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of the perverseעָוָה‛âvâh · to pervertH5753
- rebelliousמַרְדּוּתmardûth · rebelliousH4780
- do not I knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that thou hast chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
- of Jesseיִשַׁיyishay 'îyshay · JesseH3448
- to thine own confusionבֹּ֫שֶׁתbôsheth · shameH1322
- of thy mother’sאֵם'êm · motherH517
- nakednessעֶרְוָה‛ervâh · nakednessH6172
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:30
- Job 5:2Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
- Proverbs 14:29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
- Proverbs 19:12A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 21:24"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.
- Proverbs 25:28A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
- Proverbs 27:3A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
- James 1:19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
- Matthew 5:22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
- Ephesians 4:31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
- Ephesians 6:4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:30
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 30Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman - This clause is variously translated and understood. The Hebrew might be translated, Son of an unjust rebellion; that is, "Thou art a rebel against thy own father." The Vulgate, Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis; "Son of the woman who, of her own accord, forces the man." The Septuagint is equally curious, ̔ ; "Son of the damsels who came of their own accord." Were these the meaning of the Hebrew, then the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 30The greatest insult and most stinging reproach that can be cast upon an Oriental is to reproach his parents or ancestors (see Job 30:8). Saul means to intimate that Jonathan was stubborn from his mother‘s womb.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. 30You son of a perverse and rebellious woman!: This insult was as strong and offensive in Hebrew as it is in English. to your own shame: Saul cared about his family's legacy. He saw David’s actions as a threat to Jonathan, the rightful heir. To Saul, Jonathan was stupidly hurting and shaming himself by supporting David.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3030. Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman--This is a striking Oriental form of abuse. Saul was not angry with his wife; it was the son alone, upon whom he meant, by this style of address, to discharge his resentment. The principle on which it is founded seems to be, that to a genuine filial instinct it is a more inexpiable offense to hear the name or character of a parent traduced, than any personal reproach. This was, undoubtedly, one cause of "the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:30
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries