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 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?”

Context of 1 Samuel 20:1

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?” 2“That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!” 3Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!”

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 19:19When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah,
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men,
• Psalms 124:6Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
• 2 Peter 2:9So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
• 1 Samuel 12:3Now testify against me in the presence of the Lord and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”
• 1 Samuel 24:11Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,
• Psalms 18:20The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
• 1 John 3:21Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

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