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

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? 2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Yhwh liveth, and as thy soul liveth, 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

• 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 19:19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
• 1 Samuel 23:26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
• Psalms 124:6Blessed be Yhwh, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
• 2 Peter 2:9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
• 1 Samuel 12:3Behold, here I am: witness against me before Yhwh, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
• 1 Samuel 24:11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
• Psalms 7:3O Yhwh my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
• Psalms 18:20Yhwh rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
• 1 John 3:21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we 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