1 Samuel 20:12

1 Samuel 20:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jonathan said to David, "The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan said to David: “The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,

Context of 1 Samuel 20:12

10Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, let’s go out to the field.” So they both went out to the field. Then Jonathan said to David, “By Adonai, God of Israel, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow or the day after. Look, if it is good toward David, wouldn’t I then send word to you and disclose it to you? 13May Adonai do so to Jonathan and even worse, should my father intend to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in shalom. So may Adonai be with you as He has been with my father. 14“Now if I am still alive, wouldn’t you show me the loyal love of Adonai so I wouldn’t die?

1 Samuel 20:12 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־אֶחְקֹ֣ר אֶת־אָבִ֗י כָּעֵ֤ת׀ מָחָר֙ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹֽא־אָז֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֖יתִי אֶת־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• when I have soundedחָקַרchâqar · to searchH2713
• my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• about to morrowמָחָרmâchâr · tomorrowH4279
• any timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• the thirdשְׁלִישִׁיshelîyshîy · thirdH7992
• goodטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
• and I then sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• not unto thee, and shewאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: to earsH241
• not unto thee, and shewגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:12

• Joshua 22:22“God of gods is Adonai! God of gods is Adonai! He knows, and may Israel itself know! If we acted in rebellion or in treachery against Adonai, don’t spare us this day!
• Job 31:4Does He not see my ways and count all my steps?
• Psalms 17:3You have examined my heart. You searched me at night. Though You test me, You find nothing. I resolved that my mouth will not sin.
• Psalms 139:1For the music director: a psalm of David. Adonai, You searched me and know me.
• Proverbs 20:5The intent of a man’s heart is deep water, but a man of insight draws it out.
• Proverbs 25:2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
• 1 Samuel 20:2“Never!” he said to him. “You will not die! Behold, my father does nothing great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this matter from me? It cannot be.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Jonathan said - O Lord God of Israel - There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The Septuagint has, The Lord God of Israel doth Know. The Syriac and Arabic, The Lord God of Israel is Witness. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. supply the word חי chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus, As the Lord God of Israel Liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good, and I then send not unto thee, and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-23Verses 11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• Israel
• Jonathan
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Third Day
• Artillery
• Require

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