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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

1 Samuel 20:7

If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Influence;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Servants;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nob;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jonathan ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Jonathan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - New Moon;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Feasts;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Determine;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.
Hebrew Names Version
If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have shalom: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
King James Version
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
Lexham English Bible
If he says ‘Good,' it will mean peace for your servant; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided to do me harm.
English Standard Version
If he says, ‘Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.
New Century Version
If your father says, ‘Fine,' I am safe. But if he becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.
New English Translation
If he should then say, ‘That's fine,' then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.
Amplified Bible
"If he says, 'All right,' your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, then be certain that he has decided on evil.
New American Standard Bible
"If he says, 'That is good,' your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, be aware that he has decided on evil.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And if he say thus, It is well, thy seruant shall haue peace: but if he be angrie, be sure that wickednesse is concluded of him.
Legacy Standard Bible
If he says, ‘It is good,' your servant will have peace; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.
Complete Jewish Bible
If he says, ‘Very good,' then your servant will be all right. But if he gets angry, you will know that he has planned something bad.
Darby Translation
If he say thus, It is well,—thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.
Easy-to-Read Version
If your father says, ‘Fine,' then I am safe. But if your father becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.
George Lamsa Translation
If he says thus, It is well; then your servant shall have peace; but if he is displeased, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
Good News Translation
If he says, ‘All right,' I will be safe; but if he becomes angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.
Literal Translation
If he shall say so, Good! Peace shall be for your servant. But if it burns him greatly, know that evil has been determined by him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf he saye then: It is good, the stondeth it well with yi seruaunt. But yf he be wroth, thou shalt perceaue that he intendeth euell.
American Standard Version
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
Bible in Basic English
If he says, It is well, your servant will be at peace: but if he is angry, then it will be clear to you that he has an evil purpose in mind against me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And if he say it is well done, then thy seruaunt shal haue peace: But and if he be angry, then be sure that wickednesse is vtterly concluded of him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If he say thus: It is well; thy servant shall have peace; but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
King James Version (1611)
If he say thus, It is well, thy seruant shall haue peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that euill is determined by him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
If he shall say thus, Well, —all is safe for thy servant: but if he shall answer harshly to thee, know that evil is determined by him.
English Revised Version
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
Berean Standard Bible
If he says, 'Good,' then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If he seith, Wel, pees schal be to thi seruaunt; forsothe if he is wrooth, wite thou, that his malice is fillid.
Young's Literal Translation
If thus he say: Good; peace [is] for thy servant; and if it be very displeasing to him -- know that the evil hath been determined by him;
Update Bible Version
If he says thus, It is well; your slave shall have peace: but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.
Webster's Bible Translation
If he shall say thus, [It is] well; thy servant will have peace: but if he shall be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined by him.
World English Bible
If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
New King James Version
If he says thus: "It is well,' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that evil is determined by him.
New Living Translation
If he says, ‘Fine!' you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.
New Life Bible
If he says, ‘Good!' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, then you will know that he has decided to do what is bad.
New Revised Standard
If he says, ‘Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, thus, he say - It is well, - thy servant shall have, peace, - but, if it, anger, him, know that harm hath been determined by him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If he shall say: It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height.
Revised Standard Version
If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If he says, 'It is good,' your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.

Contextual Overview

1 David escaped from Prophets Village. Then he ran to see Jonathan and asked, "Why does your father Saul want to kill me? What have I done wrong?" 2 "My father can't be trying to kill you! He never does anything without telling me about it. Why would he hide this from me? It can't be true!" 3 "Jonathan, I swear it's true! But your father knows how much you like me, and he didn't want to break your heart. That's why he didn't tell you. I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I'm only one step ahead of death." 4 Then Jonathan said, "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it." 5 David answered: Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and I'm supposed to eat dinner with your father. But instead, I'll hide in a field until the evening of the next day. 6 If Saul wonders where I am, tell him, "David asked me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem, so he could take part in a sacrifice his family makes there every year." 7 If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me. 8 Be kind to me. After all, it was your idea to promise the Lord that we would always be loyal friends. If I've done anything wrong, kill me yourself, but don't hand me over to your father.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

It is well: Deuteronomy 1:23, 2 Samuel 17:4

evil: 1 Samuel 20:9, 1 Samuel 25:17, Esther 7:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:14 - thereby 1 Samuel 20:32 - what hath Psalms 56:5 - all

Cross-References

Genesis 2:17
except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong. If you eat any fruit from that tree, you will die before the day is over!"
Genesis 12:15
The king's officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house.
Genesis 12:17
Because of Sarai, the Lord struck the king and everyone in his palace with terrible diseases.
Genesis 20:1
Abraham moved to the Southern Desert, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. Later he went to Gerar, and while there
Genesis 20:2
he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
Genesis 20:3
But God came to Abimelech in a dream and said, "You have taken a married woman, and for this you will die!"
Genesis 20:4
Abimelech said to the Lord, "Don't kill me! I haven't slept with Sarah. Didn't they say they were brother and sister? I am completely innocent."
Genesis 20:6
God spoke to Abimelech in another dream and said: I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sleeping with Sarah and doing anything wrong.
Genesis 20:9
Abimelech then called in Abraham and said: Look what you've done to us! What have I ever done to you? Why did you make me and my nation guilty of such a terrible sin?
Genesis 20:14
Abimelech gave Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves. He sent Sarah back

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If he say thus, [it is] well,.... It is very well, it is very good and right in him to do so:

thy servant shall have peace; it will be a token that the wrath of the king was removed, and that his mind was well disposed towards David, and things had taken an happy turn, and would issue in his peace and prosperity:

but if he be very wroth; with Jonathan for giving leave, and with David for going away:

[then] be sure that evil is determined by him; that he has a settled obstinate malice in his heart, which is become implacable and inveterate, and confirmed in him; and that it is a determined point with him to slay David if possible, which he hoped to have an opportunity of doing at that time in which he was disappointed, and caused such wrath in him.


 
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