1 Samuel 20 · Verse 1

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?
1 Samuel 20:1, King James Version

1 Samuel 20:1 in other translations

BSBThen David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
WEBDavid fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
ASVAnd 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?
YLTAnd David fleeth from Naioth in Ramah, and cometh, and saith before Jonathan, ‘What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what my sin before thy father, that he is seeking my life?'
DARBYAnd David fled from Naioth by 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 seeks my life?
BBEAnd David went in flight from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and said, What have I done? What is my crime and my sin against your father that he is attempting to take my life?
WebsterAnd David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

What does 1 Samuel 20:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 20:1-3
1Sa 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 generous feelings--to inform his friend of what had recently occurred, and to obtain that friend's sanction to the course he was compelled to adopt. Jonathan could not be persuaded there was any real danger after the oath his father had taken; at all events, he felt assured his father would do nothing without telling him. Filial attachment naturally blinded the prince to defects in the parental character and made him reluctant to believe his father capable of such atrocity. David repeated his unshaken convictions of Saul's murderous purpose, but in terms delicately chosen (1Sa 20:3), not to wound the filial feelings of his friend; while Jonathan, clinging, it would seem, to a hope that the extraordinary scene enacted at Naioth might have wrought a sanctified improvement on Saul's temper and feelings, undertook to inform David of the result of his observations at home.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

David complains to Jonathan of Saul's enmity against him; Jonathan comforts him, 1Sam 20:1-10. They walk out into the field, and renew their covenant, 1Sam 20:11-17. David asks Jonathan's leave to absent himself from Saul's court; and Jonathan informs him how he shall ascertain the disposition of his father towards him, 1Sam 20:18-23. David hides himself; is missed by Saul; Jonathan is questioned concerning his absence; makes an excuse for David; Saul is enraged, and endeavors to kill Jonathan, 1Sam 20:24-33. Jonathan goes out to the field; gives David the sign which they had agreed on, and by which he was to know that the king had determined to take away his life, 1Sam 20:34-39. He sends his servant back into the city; and then he and David meet, renew their covenant, and have a very affectionate parting, 1Sam 20:40-42. Verse 1 David 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:1-10
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. Let them not murmur at his gracious appointment, nor distrust his care; but let them look forward with joyful expectation to the crown which is laid up for them. Sometimes it appears to us that there is but a step between us and death; at all times it may be so, and we should prepare for the event. But though dangers appear most threatening, we cannot die till the purpose of God concerning us is accomplished; nor till we have served our generation according to his will, if we are believers. Jonathan generously offers David his services. This is true friendship. Thus Christ testifies his love to us, Ask, and it shall be done for you; and we must testify our love to him, by keeping his commandments.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 20:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּבְרַ֣חvai.yiv.Rachand he fledH1272
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
מִנָּי֖וֹתmi.noi.vtfrom NaiothH5121
בָּרָמָ֑הba.ra.Mahin <the> RamahH7414
וַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'and he wentH935
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר\׀vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
יְהוֹנָתָ֗ןye.ho.na.TanJonathanH3083
מֶ֤הmehwhat?H4100
עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙'a.Si.tihave I doneH6213
מֶֽה\־meh-what?H4100
עֲוֹנִ֤י'a.vo.Ni[is] iniquity myH5771
וּמֶֽה\־u.meh-and what?H4100
חַטָּאתִי֙cha.ta.Ti[is] sin myH2403
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
אָבִ֔יךָ'a.Vi.khafather yourH1
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
מְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.Kesh[is] seekingH1245
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
נַפְשִֽׁי\׃naf.Shilife myH5315

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 20:1

  • 2 Peter 2:9

    The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For 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 3:21

    Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

  • 1 Samuel 12:3

    Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass 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 24:9

    And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

  • 1 Samuel 24:11

    Moreover, 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.

  • 1 Samuel 24:17

    And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

  • Psalms 7:3-5

    O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

  • 1 Samuel 23:26-28

    And 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. But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela–hammahlekoth.

  • Psalms 18:20-24

    The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. …

  • 1 Samuel 19:19-24

    And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. …

  • Psalms 124:6-8

    Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David consults with Jonathan for his safety.
11 Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath.
18 Jonathan's token to David.
24 Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan.
35 Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David.

fled.
19:19-24; 23:26-28; Ps 124:6-8; 2Pe 2:9
What have.
12:3; 24:11,17; Ps 7:3-5; 18:20-24; 2Co 1:12; 1Jo 3:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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?

  • 1 Samuel 20:2

    And 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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y DAVID huyó de Najoth que es en Rama, y vínose delante de Jonathán, y dijo: ¿Qué he hecho yo? ¿cuál es mi maldad, ó cuál mi pecado contra tu padre, que él busca mi vida?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David s’enfuit de Naïoth, en Rama, et vint, et dit devant Jonathan: Qu’ai-je fait? Quelle est mon iniquité, et quel est mon péché devant ton père, qu’il cherche ma vie?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David floh von Najoth zu Rama; und er kam und sprach vor Jonathan: Was habe ich getan? Was ist meine Ungerechtigkeit, und was meine Sünde vor deinem Vater, daß er nach meinem Leben trachtet?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fugit autem David de Najoth, quæ est in Ramatha, veniensque locutus est coram Jonatha: Quid feci? quæ est iniquitas mea, et quod peccatum meum in patrem tuum, quia quærit animam meam?