1 Samuel 19:1

THE MESSAGE

Saul called his son Jonathan together with his servants and ordered them to kill David. But because Jonathan treasured David, he went and warned him: "My father is looking for a way to kill you. Here's what you are to do. Tomorrow morning, hide and stay hidden. I'll go out with my father into the field where you are hiding. I'll talk about you with my father and we'll see what he says. Then I'll report back to you."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much,

Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul spoke to Yonatan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Yonatan, Sha'ul's son, delighted much in David.

King James Version
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

Lexham English Bible
Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants about killing David, but Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much.

English Standard Version
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

New Century Version
Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan liked David very much.

New English Translation
Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much.

Amplified Bible
Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

New American Standard Bible
Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Saul spake to Ionathan his sonne, and to all his seruantes, that they shoulde kill Dauid: but Ionathan Sauls sonne had a great fauour to Dauid.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul spoke with Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

Contemporary English Version
One day, Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David a lot,

Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul told Y'honatan his son and all his servants that they should have David killed. But because Y'honatan was very fond of David,

Darby Translation
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David.

Easy-to-Read Version
Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much,

George Lamsa Translation
AND Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants that they should kill David.

Good News Translation
Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials that he planned to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David,

Literal Translation
And Saul spoke to his son Jonathan, and to all his servants, to kill David.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Saul spake to Ionathas his sonne, and to all his seruauntes, that they shulde kyll Dauid.

American Standard Version
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

Bible in Basic English
And Saul gave orders to his son Jonathan and to all his servants to put David to death. But Saul's son Jonathan had great delight in David.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Saul spake to Ionatha his sonne, and to all his seruauntes, that they should kill Dauid.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David; but Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David.

King James Version (1611)
And Saul spake to Ionathan his sonne, and to all his seruants, that they should kill Dauid.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, to slay David.

English Revised Version
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Saul spak to Jonathas, his sone, and to alle hise seruauntis, that thei schulden sle Dauid; certis Jonathas, the sone of Saul, louyde Dauid greetli.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul speaketh unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, to put David to death,

Update Bible Version
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his slaves, that they should slay David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

World English Bible
Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

New King James Version
Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted greatly in David.

New Living Translation
Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David,

New Life Bible
Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan found much joy in David.

New Revised Standard
Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul's son Jonathan took great delight in David.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then spake Saul unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, that they should put David to death;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul spoke to Jonathan, his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David exceedingly.

Revised Standard Version
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

Contextual Overview

¹Saul called his son Jonathan together with his servants and ordered them to kill David. But because Jonathan treasured David, he went and warned him: "My father is looking for a way to kill you. Here's what you are to do. Tomorrow morning, hide and stay hidden. I'll go out with my father into the field where you are hiding. I'll talk about you with my father and we'll see what he says. Then I'll report back to you." ⁴Jonathan brought up David with his father, speaking well of him. "Please," he said to his father, "don't attack David. He hasn't wronged you, has he? And just look at all the good he has done! He put his life on the line when he killed the Philistine. What a great victory God gave Israel that day! You were there. You saw it and were on your feet applauding with everyone else. So why would you even think of sinning against an innocent person, killing David for no reason whatever?" ⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and said, "You're right. As God lives, David lives. He will not be killed." ⁷ Jonathan sent for David and reported to him everything that was said. Then he brought David back to Saul and everything was as it was before.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

And Saul: Saul's enmity now burst forth, in the avowed purpose of putting David to death; and nothing less than the especial interposition of Providence could have saved David's life, when every officer about the king's person, and every soldier, had positive orders to dispatch him. 1 Samuel 18:8, 1 Samuel 18:9, Proverbs 27:4, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 9:3, 2 Timothy 3:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:18 - conspired Psalms 59:3 - they

Cross-References

Genesis 18:22
The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God 's path, blocking his way.

Genesis 19:1
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting at the city gate. He saw them and got up to welcome them, bowing before them and said, "Please, my friends, come to my house and stay the night. Wash up. You can rise early and be on your way refreshed." They said, "No, we'll sleep in the street."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son,.... Who was heir to his crown; and though he knew he loved David, and was in strict friendship with him, yet he might hope, that as his succession to the kingdom was in danger, as he thought, and that David was his rival in it, his mind would be alienated from him; and that he would listen rather to a father than a friend, and would see where his true interest lay, and abandon David, yea, seek his ruin, which Saul was intent upon

and to all his servants; who yet pretended to love David, and as he himself said they did, and some of them might; with these he might rather hope to succeed, as they were attached to him, and might be secretly enemies of David, and therefore to these, as well as to his son, he spake, and gave his orders:

that they should kill David; as if he was a traitor, and an usurper of his throne, and one that had a design upon that, and upon his life; finding he could do nothing by the schemes, and snares, and stratagems, he used in a private manner, he grew outrageous and furious, and openly declared his views, and laid his injunctions on his son and servants to take away David's life, as a very dangerous person to his crown and government.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIX

Jonathan pleads for David before Saul, who is for the present

reconciled, 1-7.

David defeats the Philistines; and Saul becomes again envious,

and endeavours to slay him, but he escapes, 8-10.

Saul sends men to David's house, to lie in wait for him; but

Michal saves him by a stratagem, 11-17.

David flees to Samuel, at Ramah, 18.

Saul, hearing of it, sends messengers three several times to

take him; but the Spirit of coming upon them, they prophesy,

19-21.

Saul, hearing of this, goes after David himself, and falls under

the same influence, 22-24.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX

Verse 1 Samuel 19:1. That they should kill David. — Nothing less than the especial interposition of God could have saved David's life, when every officer about the king's person, and every soldier, had got positive orders to despatch him.