1 Samuel 20 · Verse 30

1 Samuel 20:30

Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?

1 Samuel 20:30, King James Version

1 Samuel 20:30 in other translations

BSB	Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the disgrace of the mother who bore you?
WEB	Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
ASV	Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and unto the shame of thy mother’s nakedness?
YLT	And the anger of Saul burneth against Jonathan, and he saith to him, ‘Son of a perverse rebellious woman! have I not known that thou art fixing on the son of Jesse to thy shame, and to the shame of the nakedness of thy mother?
DARBY	And Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame and to the shame of thy mother's nakedness?
BBE	Then Saul was moved to wrath against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of an evil and uncontrolled woman, have I not seen how you have given your love to the son of Jesse, to your shame and the shame of your mother?
Webster	Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thy own confusion, and to the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

What does 1 Samuel 20:30 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

30. Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman--This is a striking Oriental form of abuse. Saul was not angry with his wife; it was the son alone, upon whom he meant, by this style of address, to discharge his resentment. The principle on which it is founded seems to be, that to a genuine filial instinct it is a more inexpiable offense to hear the name or character of a parent traduced, than any personal reproach. This was, undoubtedly, one cause of "the fierce anger" in which the high-minded prince left the table without tasting a morsel.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 30 Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman - This clause is variously translated and understood. The Hebrew might be translated, Son of an unjust rebellion; that is, "Thou art a rebel against thy own father." The Vulgate, Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis; "Son of the woman who, of her own accord, forces the man." The Septuagint is equally curious, Υἱε κορασιων αυτομολουντων; "Son of the damsels who came of their own accord." Were these the meaning of the Hebrew, then the bitter reflection must refer to some secret transaction between Saul and Jonathan's mother; which certainly reflects more dishonor on himself than on his brave son. Most sarcasms bear as hard upon the speaker, as they do on him against whom they are spoken. Abusive language always argues a mean, weak, and malevolent heart.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:24-34

None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 20:24-34 →

1 Samuel 20:30 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.

וַיִּֽחַר\־vai.yi.char-and it burnedH2734

אַ֤ף'af[the] anger ofH639

שָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlSaulH7586

בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןbi.Ho.na.Tanon JonathanH3083

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559

ל֔וֹloto <the> him

בֶּֽן\־ben-O son ofH1121

נַעֲוַ֖תna.'a.Vat<the> perverse [woman] ofH5753

הַמַּרְדּ֑וּתha.mar.Dut<the> rebelliousnessH4780

הֲל֣וֹאha.Lo'¿ notH3808

יָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tido I knowH3045

כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588

בֹחֵ֤רvo.Cher[are] choosingH977

אַתָּה֙'a.TahyouH859

לְבֶן\־le.ven-<to> [the] son ofH1121

יִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiJesseH3448

לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔le.Va.she.te.khato own shame yourH1322

וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁתu.le.Vo.shetand to [the] shame ofH1322

עֶרְוַ֥ת'er.Vat[the] nakedness ofH6172

אִמֶּֽךָ\׃'i.Me.khamother yourH517

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 20:30

Proverbs 21:24
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
James 1:19-20
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Proverbs 19:12
The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Proverbs 25:28
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Job 5:2
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Proverbs 19:19
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Saul's.
Job 5:2; Pr 14:29; 19:12,19; 21:24; 25:28; 27:3; Jas 1:19,20
Thou, etc. or, Thou perverse rebel. Heb. Son of perverserebellion.
Pr 15:2; 21:24; Mt 5:22; Eph 4:31; 6:4
and unto the.This reflection on the mother of Jonathan, by the passionate monarch, reflects more dishonour on himself than on his brave and noble minded son. Mungo Park gives an instance of the prevalence of the same principles in Africa; for he says, "Maternal affection is every where conspicuous among the Africans, and creates a correspondent return of tenderness in the child. 'Strike me,' said my attendant, 'but do not curse my mother.' I found the same sentiment to prevail universally in all parts of Africa." King Saul, unable to villify Jonathan to his own satisfaction by personal reproaches, outstepped the ordinary abuse of his day, and proceeded to that which was designed to produce unusual vexation, and vented the bitterness of his mind by maligning the character of his own wife and Jonathan's mother.

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

Context

1 Samuel 20:29
And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
1 Samuel 20:30
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:30 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces Saúl se enardeció contra Jonathán, y díjole: Hijo de la perversa y rebelde, ¿no sé yo que tú has elegido al hijo de Isaí para confusión tuya, y para confusión de la vergüenza de tu madre?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et la colère de Saül s’embrasa contre Jonathan, et il lui dit: Fils de la femme perverse et rebelle, ne sais-je pas que tu as choisi le fils d’Isaï à ta honte et à la honte de la nudité de ta mère?
German Elberfelder 1871	Da entbrannte der Zorn Sauls wider Jonathan, und er sprach zu ihm: Sohn einer widerspenstigen Verkehrten! weiß ich nicht, daß du den Sohn Isais auserkoren hast zu deiner Schande und zur Schande der Blöße deiner Mutter?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Iratus autem Saul adversum Jonathan, dixit ei: Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis, numquid ignoro quia diligis filium Isai in confusionem tuam, et in confusionem ignominiosæ matris tuæ?