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?
• New International Version (NIV)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?”
• 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 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 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?” 2So Jonathan said to him, “By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!” 3Then David took an oath again, and said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but 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 19:19Now it was told Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!”
• 1 Samuel 23:26Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.
• Psalms 124:6Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
• 2 Peter 2:9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
• 1 Samuel 12:3Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
• 1 Samuel 24:11Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands,
• Psalms 18:20The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
• 1 John 3:21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward 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