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

10David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come on. Let’s go out to the field.” When the two of them had gone out into the field, Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know? 13But if my father intends to do you harm, may the Lord do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don’t let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the Lord be with you, as he was with my father. 14While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• when I have soundedחָקַרchâqar · to searchH2713
• my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• about to morrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
• any timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• the thirdשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
• goodטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
• and I then sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• not unto thee, and shewאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
• not unto thee, and shewגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:12

• Joshua 22:22“El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today!
• Job 31:4Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?
• Psalms 17:3You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.
• Psalms 139:1O Lord, you examine me and know.
• Proverbs 20:5Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out.
• Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.
• 1 Samuel 20:2Jonathan said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing large or small without making me aware of it. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

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