1 Samuel 20:10

THE MESSAGE

David asked, "And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

Hebrew Names Version
Then said David to Yonatan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?

King James Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

Lexham English Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if what your father answers you is harsh?"

English Standard Version
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

New Century Version
David asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you unkindly?"

New English Translation
David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

Amplified Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

New American Standard Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will inform me if your father answers you harshly?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then said Dauid to Ionathan, Who shall tell me? how shall I knowe, if thy father answere thee cruelly?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

Contemporary English Version
"How will you do that?" David asked.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then David asked Y'honatan, "Who will tell me in the event your father gives you a harsh answer?"

Darby Translation
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

Easy-to-Read Version
David said, "Who will warn me if your father says bad things to you?"

George Lamsa Translation
Then David said to Jonathan, Who shall report to me, if your father answers you roughly?

Good News Translation
David then asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you angrily?"

Literal Translation
Then David said to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? Or what if your father answers harshly?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Dauid sayde: Who shal brynge me worde, yf thy father geue the an harde answere?

American Standard Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

Bible in Basic English
Then David said to Jonathan, Who will give me word if your father gives you a rough answer?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayd Dauid to Ionathan: Who shall tell me? how [shall I knowe] if thy father aunswere thee cruelly?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then said David to Jonathan: 'Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?'

King James Version (1611)
Then said Dauid to Ionathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answere thee roughly?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David said to Jonathan, Who can tell me if thy father should answer roughly?

English Revised Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

Berean Standard Bible
Then David asked Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid answeride to Jonathas, Who schal telle to me, if in caas thi fadir answerith harde ony thing of me?

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto Jonathan, `Who doth declare to me? or what [if] thy father doth answer thee sharply?'

Update Bible Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answers you roughly?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father shall answer thee roughly?

World English Bible
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?

New King James Version
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?"

New Living Translation
Then David asked, "How will I know whether or not your father is angry?"

New Life Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father is angry when he answers you?"

New Revised Standard
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said David unto Jonathan, Who shall tell me, - if thy father answer thee aught that is, harsh?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy father should answer thee harshly concerning me?

Revised Standard Version
Then said David to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

Contextual Overview

⁹ "Never!" exclaimed Jonathan. "I'd never do that! If I get the slightest hint that my father is fixated on killing you, I'll tell you." ¹⁰ David asked, "And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?" ¹¹"Come outside," said Jonathan. "Let's go to the field." When the two of them were out in the field, Jonathan said, "As God , the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I'll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I'll let you know what I learn. May God do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And God be with you as he's been with my father! If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when God finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!" Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul! ¹⁸Jonathan then laid out his plan: "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you'll be missed when you don't show up for dinner. On the third day, when they've quit expecting you, come to the place where you hid before, and wait beside that big boulder. I'll shoot three arrows in the direction of the boulder. Then I'll send off my servant, ‘Go find the arrows.' If I yell after the servant, ‘The arrows are on this side! Retrieve them!' that's the signal that you can return safely—as God lives, not a thing to fear! But if I yell, ‘The arrows are farther out!' then run for it— God wants you out of here! Regarding all the things we've discussed, remember that God 's in on this with us to the very end!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

answer thee: 1 Samuel 20:30-34, 1 Samuel 25:10, 1 Samuel 25:14, 1 Samuel 25:17, Genesis 42:7, Genesis 42:30, 1 Kings 12:13, Proverbs 18:23

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?.... The disposition of Saul's mind towards him, whether he gave a kind answer to the report of Jonathan concerning him:

or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly? or hard words, as the Targum, whether he answers in a kind, loving, and smooth manner, or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here, how he should be informed of this, since especially, if in the latter, it would not be safe for Jonathan to come himself to him, nor could he well trust the message with any other. Abarbinel thinks, that the first of these expressions is by way of question, who should declare to him his father's will and intention, whether good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry, woe unto me, if thy father should answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my account.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 20:10. Who shall tell me? — Who shall give me the necessary information? What means wilt thou use to convey this intelligence to me?