New Living Translation
1 Samuel 20:41
41As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.
1 Samuel 20:41 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
- New International Version (NIV)After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.
Context of 1 Samuel 20:41
39He, of course, suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David understood the signal. 40Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to take them back to town. As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David. 42At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.
Read all of 1 Samuel 201 Samuel 20:41 word by word
הַנַּעַר֮ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד קָ֚ם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- as soon as the ladנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- was goneבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- towardאֵ֫צֶל'êtsel · besideH681
- the southנֶ֫גֶבnegeb · southH5045
- and fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- on his faceאַף'aph · faceH639
- to the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- and bowedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
- himself threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- timesפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- and they kissedנָשַׁקnâshaq · to kissH5401
- oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- anotherרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- and weptבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
- exceededגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:41
- 1 Samuel 25:23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.
- Genesis 43:28“Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.
- 2 Samuel 9:6His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
- 1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.
- Genesis 29:11Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud.
- Genesis 45:15Then Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them, and after that they began talking freely with him.
- 2 Samuel 19:39So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.
- Acts 20:37They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.
- 1 Samuel 18:3And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.
- 2 Samuel 1:26How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 41Until David exceeded - David's distress must, in the nature of things, be the greatest. Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion. Saul saw David's growing popularity, and was convinced of his own maladministration. He did not humble himself before God, and therefore became a prey to envy, pride, jealousy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 41A place toward the south - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David‘s hiding-place in 1 Samuel 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has “argab,” a word meaning a “heap of stones.” If this be the true reading, David‘s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called “Argab,” or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place. Bowed himself three times - In token, doubtless, of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-42Verses 35-42 The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 41David … bowed: Jonathan had a higher social rank, making David's gesture appropriate. he and Jonathan … wept: For the first time in the story, the text shows that both men openly shared their grief (see 1 Samuel 18:1, 3–4; 20:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 41-4241-42. David ... fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times--a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:41
In the dictionaries
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
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