1 Samuel 20:12

1 Samuel 20:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jonathan said to David, "The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan said to David: “The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,

Context of 1 Samuel 20:12

10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field. Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward you, shall I not then send word to you and inform you? 13If it pleases my father to do you harm, may the Lord do so to me and more so, if I fail to inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die?

1 Samuel 20:12 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־אֶחְקֹ֣ר אֶת־אָבִ֗י כָּעֵ֤ת׀ מָחָר֙ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹֽא־אָז֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֖יתִי אֶת־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

• Then Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• Whenכִּיkîy · forH3588
• I have soundedחָקַרchâqar · to searchH2713
• my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• about this timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• tomorrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
• the thirdשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
• day, beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• goodטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
• towardאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• you, shall I not thenאָז'âz · thenH227
• sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• informגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540
• informאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:12

• Joshua 22:22“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord, do not save us this day!
• Job 31:4Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?
• Psalms 17:3You have put my heart to the test; You have visited me by night; You have sifted me and You find nothing; My intent is that my mouth will not offend.
• Psalms 139:1Lord, You have searched me and known me.
• Proverbs 20:5A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water, But a person of understanding draws it out.
• Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
• 1 Samuel 20:2He said to him, “Far from it, you shall not die! Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without informing me. So why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Jonathan said - O Lord God of Israel - There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The Septuagint has, The Lord God of Israel doth Know. The Syriac and Arabic, The Lord God of Israel is Witness. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. supply the word חי chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus, As the Lord God of Israel Liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good, and I then send not unto thee, and…Read the comment
• 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

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• Israel
• Jonathan
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Third Day
• Artillery
• Require

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