God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 20:30
30Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. “Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!” he called Jonathan. “I know you’ve sided with Jesse’s son. You have no shame. ⌞You act⌟ as if you are your mother’s son but not mine.
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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)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?
- 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?
Context of 1 Samuel 20:30
28Jonathan answered Saul, “David repeatedly begged me ⌞to let him go⌟ to Bethlehem. 29David said to me ‘Please let me go. Our relatives will offer a sacrifice in the city, and my brother ordered me to be there. If you will permit it, please let me go to see my brothers.’ This is why he hasn’t come to your banquet.” Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. “Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!” he called Jonathan. “I know you’ve sided with Jesse’s son. You have no shame. ⌞You act⌟ as if you are your mother’s son but not mine. 31As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!” 32Jonathan asked his father, “Why should he be killed? 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 5:2Certainly, anger kills a stubborn fool, and jealousy murders a gullible person.
- Proverbs 14:29A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.
- Proverbs 19:12The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 21:24An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker. His arrogance knows no limits.
- Proverbs 25:28⌞Like⌟ a city broken into ⌞and⌟ left without a wall, ⌞so⌟ is a person who lacks self-control.
- Proverbs 27:3A stone is heavy, and sand weighs a lot, but annoyance caused by a stubborn fool is heavier than both.
- James 1:19Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
- Matthew 5:22But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.
- Ephesians 4:31Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
- Ephesians 6:4Fathers, don’t make your children bitter about life. Instead, bring them up in Christian discipline and instruction.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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