1 Samuel 20:1

1 Samuel 20:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?”

Context of 1 Samuel 20:1

Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?” 2“Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!” 3But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”

1 Samuel 20:1 word by word

וַיִּבְרַ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד מִנָּי֖וֹת בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֞א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ מֶֽה־עֲוֹנִ֤י וּמֶֽה־חַטָּאתִי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֥י מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִֽׁי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272
• from Naiothנָוִיתnâvîyth · NaiothH5121
• in Ramahרָמָהrâmâh · RamahH7414
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• What have I doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• mine iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: guiltH5771
• my sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
• thy fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• that he seekethבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• my lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:1

• 1 Samuel 19:19Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”;
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,
• Psalms 124:6Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
• 2 Peter 2:9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
• 1 Samuel 12:3Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.”
• 1 Samuel 24:11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
• Psalms 7:3Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands—
• Psalms 18:20The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
• 1 John 3:21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1David fled from Naioth - On hearing that Saul had come to that place, knowing that he was no longer in safety, he fled for his life.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1While Saul was under the constraining influence of the spirit of prophecy, David escaped from Naioth, and, probably by Samuel‘s advice, returned to Saul‘s court to commune with Jonathan. Nothing could be a better evidence of his innocence than thus putting himself in Jonathan‘s power. Perhaps something passed between Samuel and Saul on the subject, since it appears from 1 Samuel 20:5, 1 Samuel 20:25, 1 Samuel 20:27, that Saul expected David at the feast…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David consults Jonathan. (1-10) Jonathan's covenant with David. (11-23) Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan. (24-34) Jonathan takes leave of David. (35-42) Verses 1-10 The trials David met with, prepared him for future advancement. Thus the Lord deals with those whom he prepares unto glory. He does not put them into immediate possession of the kingdom, but leads them to it through much tribulation, which he makes the means of fitting them for it…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-101Sa 20:1-10. David Consults with Jonathan for His Safety. 1-3. David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan--He could not remain in Naioth, for he had strong reason to fear that when the religious fit, if we may so call it, was over, Saul would relapse into his usual fell and sanguinary temper. It may be thought that David acted imprudently in directing his flight to Gibeah. But he was evidently prompted to go thither by the most…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:1

• Naioth

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Ramah
• Artillery
• Require
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)
• Palestine
• Prophecy; Prophets
• Samuel, Books of

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