Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

1 Samuel 20:20

I will then shoot three arrows at it, as though it were a target.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Archery;   Arrow;   Thompson Chain Reference - Arrows;   Weapons;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arrows;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Sport;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Magic;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Games;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jonathan ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Jonathan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ben'jamin, the Tribe of;   New Moon;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Games;   Mark;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Athletes, Athletics, and Field-Sports;   Games and Sports;   New Moon;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I’m aiming at a target.
Hebrew Names Version
I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
King James Version
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
Lexham English Bible
I will shoot three arrows to the side as if I were shooting at a target.
English Standard Version
And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
New Century Version
On the third day I will shoot three arrows to the side of the rock as if I am shooting at a target.
New English Translation
I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target.
Amplified Bible
"I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a target.
New American Standard Bible
"And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I will shoote three arrowes on the side thereof, as though I shot at a marke.
Legacy Standard Bible
And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I sent them towards a target.
Contemporary English Version
I'll shoot three arrows at a target off to the side of the rock,
Complete Jewish Bible
I will shoot three arrows to one side, as if I were shooting at a target.
Darby Translation
And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
Easy-to-Read Version
On the third day I will go to that hill and shoot three arrows as if I am shooting at a target.
George Lamsa Translation
And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
Literal Translation
And I will shoot three arrows to the side, shooting at a mark for myself.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
then wyl I shute thre arowes on yt side, as though I wolde shute at a marck:
American Standard Version
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
Bible in Basic English
And on the third day I will send arrows from my bow against its side as if at a mark.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I wil shoote three arowes on the syde therof, as though I shot them at a marke,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And I will shoot three arrows to the side-ward, as though I shot at a mark.
King James Version (1611)
And I will shoot three arrowes on the side thereof, as though I shot at a marke.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will shoot three arrows, aiming them at a mark.
English Revised Version
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
Berean Standard Bible
I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y schal sende thre arowis bisidis that stoon, and Y schal caste as `excercisynge ether pleiynge me at a signe.
Young's Literal Translation
`And I shoot three of the arrows at the side, sending out for myself at a mark;
Update Bible Version
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
Webster's Bible Translation
And I will shoot three arrows on the side [of it], as though I shot at a mark.
World English Bible
I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
New King James Version
Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target;
New Living Translation
I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.
New Life Bible
I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I shot at a mark.
New Revised Standard
I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, as for me - three arrows to the side, will I shoot, - as though I shot at a mark.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will shoot three arrows near it, and will shoot as if I were exercising myself at a mark.
Revised Standard Version
And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.

Contextual Overview

9 "Don't even think such a thing!" Jonathan answered. "If I knew for sure that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn't I tell you?" 10 David then asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you angrily?" 11 "Let's go out to the fields," Jonathan answered. So they went, 12 and Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word. 13 If he intends to harm you, may the Lord strike me dead if I don't let you know about it and get you safely away. May the Lord be with you as he was with my father! 14 And if I remain alive, please keep your sacred promise and be loyal to me; but if I die, 15 show the same kind of loyalty to my family forever. And when the Lord has completely destroyed all your enemies, 16 may our promise to each other still be unbroken. If it is broken, the Lord will punish you." 17 Once again Jonathan made David promise to love him, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. 18 Then Jonathan said to him, "Since tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, your absence will be noticed if you aren't at the meal.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:36 - Run

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof],.... On the side of the stone Ezel; three are pitched upon, according to the number of the days David was missing:

as though I shot at a mark; as if he made the stone the mark he shot at; so that his shooting would not be taken notice of.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 20:20. I well shoot three arrows — Jonathan intended that David should stay at the stone Ezel, where probably there was some kind of cave, or hiding place; that, to prevent all suspicion, he would not go to him himself, but take his servant into the fields, and pretend to be exercising himself in archery; that he would shoot three arrows, the better to cover his design; and that, if he should say to his servant, who went to bring back the arrows, "The arrows are on this side of thee," this should be a sign to David that he might safely return to court, no evil being designed; but if he should say, "The arrows are beyond thee," then David should escape for his life, Saul having determined his destruction.


 
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