1 Samuel 20 · Verse 40

1 Samuel 20:40

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

1 Samuel 20:40, King James Version

1 Samuel 20:40 in other translations

BSB	Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
WEB	Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”
ASV	And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
YLT	And Jonathan giveth his weapons unto the youth whom he hath, and saith to him, ‘Go, carry into the city.'
DARBY	And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.
BBE	And Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy, and said to him, Take these and go back to the town.
Webster	And Jonathan gave his arms to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.

What does 1 Samuel 20:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

40. Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad--that is, his missive weapons. The French word artillerie, signifies "archery." The term is still used in England, in the designation of the "artillery company of London," the association of archers, though they have long disused bows and arrows. Jonathan's boy being despatched out of the way, the friends enjoyed the satisfaction of a final meeting. 1Sa 20:41, 42. Jonathan and David Lovingly Part.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 40 Jonathan gave his artillery - I believe this to be the only place in our language where the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordnance. The original (כלי keley) signifies simply instruments, and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:35-42

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 full comment on 1 Samuel 20:35-42 →

1 Samuel 20:40 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.

וַיִּתֵּ֤ןvai.yi.Tenand he gaveH5414

יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ye.ho.na.TanJonathanH3083

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

כֵּלָ֔יוke.Lavweapons hisH3627

אֶל\־'el-toH413

הַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arthe ladH5288

אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whoH834

ל֑וֹlo[belonged] to <the> him

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559

ל֔וֹloto <the> him

לֵ֖ךְlekhgoH1980

הָבֵ֥יאha.Vei'take [them]H935

הָעִֽיר\׃ha.'Irthe cityH5892

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

artillery. Heb. instruments.Rather weapons, as the word {kelim} also denotes; and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows. This is probably the only place in our language in which the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordinance, but simply to weapons of war.
his lad. Heb. the lad that was his.

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

Context

1 Samuel 20:39
But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
1 Samuel 20:40
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
1 Samuel 20:41
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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:40 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Luego dió Jonathán sus armas á su muchacho, y díjole: Vete y llévalas á la ciudad.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et Jonathan donna ses armes au garçon qu’il avait, et lui dit: Va, porte-les à la ville.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und Jonathan gab seine Waffen seinem Knaben und sprach zu ihm: Gehe, bringe sie in die Stadt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Dedit ergo Jonathas arma sua puero, et dixit ei: Vade, et defer in civitatem.