1 Samuel 20:28

THE MESSAGE

Jonathan said, "David asked my special permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Give me leave to attend a family reunion back home. My brothers have ordered me to be there. If it seems all right to you, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he's not here at the king's table."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.

Hebrew Names Version
Yonatan answered Sha'ul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beit-Lechem:

King James Version
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:

Lexham English Bible
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission from me to go up to Bethlehem.

English Standard Version
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.

New Century Version
Jonathan answered, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.

New English Translation
Jonathan replied to Saul, "David urgently requested that he be allowed to go to Bethlehem.

Amplified Bible
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem.

New American Standard Bible
And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly requested leave of me to go to Bethlehem.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ionathan answered vnto Saul, Dauid required of me, that he might goe to Beth-lehem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Jonathan then answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem,

Contemporary English Version
Jonathan answered, "The reason David hasn't come to eat with you is that he begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Please let me go. My family is offering a sacrifice, and my brother told me I have to be there. Do me this favor and let me slip away to see my brothers.'"

Complete Jewish Bible
Y'honatan answered Sha'ul, "David begged me to let him go to Beit-Lechem.

Darby Translation
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me [to go] to Bethlehem,

Easy-to-Read Version
Jonathan answered, "David asked me to let him go to Bethlehem.

George Lamsa Translation
And Jonathan answered and said to Saul his father, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem;

Good News Translation
Jonathan answered, "He begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.

Literal Translation
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked of me to go to Bethlehem.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ionathas answered Saul: He prayed me that he mighte go vnto Bethleem,

American Standard Version
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

Bible in Basic English
And answering Saul, Jonathan said, He made a request to me that he might go to Beth-lehem,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ionathan aunswered vnto Saul: Dauid asked licence of me to go to Bethlehem.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Jonathan answered Saul: 'David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem;

King James Version (1611)
And Ionathan answered Saul, Dauid earnestly asked leaue of me, to goe to Bethlehem.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Jonathan answered Saul, and said to him, David asked leave of me to go as far as Bethleem his city;

English Revised Version
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth–lehem:

Berean Standard Bible
Jonathan answered, "David urgently requested my permission to go to Bethlehem,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Jonathas answeride to Saul, He preiede me mekeli, that he schulde go in to Bethleem;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan answereth Saul, `David hath been earnestly asked of me unto Beth-Lehem,

Update Bible Version
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Beth-lehem:

World English Bible
Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

New King James Version
So Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.

New Living Translation
Jonathan replied, "David earnestly asked me if he could go to Bethlehem.

New Life Bible
Jonathan answered Saul, "David asked me to let him go to Bethlehem.

New Revised Standard
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Jonathan answered Saul, - David, asked leave, of me, to go as far as Bethlehem;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jonathan answered Saul: He asked leave of me earnestly to go to Bethlehem.

Revised Standard Version
Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Jonathan then answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem,

Contextual Overview

²⁴David hid in the field. On the holiday of the New Moon, the king came to the table to eat. He sat where he always sat, the place against the wall, with Jonathan across the table and Abner at Saul's side. But David's seat was empty. Saul didn't mention it at the time, thinking, "Something's happened that's made him unclean. That's it—he's probably unclean for the holy meal." ²⁷ But the day after the New Moon, day two of the holiday, David's seat was still empty. Saul asked Jonathan his son, "So where's that son of Jesse? He hasn't eaten with us either yesterday or today." ²⁸Jonathan said, "David asked my special permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Give me leave to attend a family reunion back home. My brothers have ordered me to be there. If it seems all right to you, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he's not here at the king's table." ³⁰Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: "You son of a slut! Don't you think I know that you're in cahoots with the son of Jesse, disgracing both you and your mother? For as long as the son of Jesse is walking around free on this earth, your future in this kingdom is at risk. Now go get him. Bring him here. From this moment, he's as good as dead!" ³² Jonathan stood up to his father. "Why dead? What's he done?" ³³ Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. That convinced Jonathan that his father was fixated on killing David. ³⁴ Jonathan stormed from the table, furiously angry, and ate nothing the rest of the day, upset for David and smarting under the humiliation from his father.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Samuel 20:6

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Jonathan answered Saul,.... In reply to Saul's question, and to excuse David, he said,

David earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Bethlehem; his own city, his native place, where his family lived, whom he was desirous to see, and yet chose not to go without asking leave; and as Saul was not at home, he asked leave of Jonathan, who was next to him, and acted for him; and he was very pressing and importunate in his suit, and therefore Jonathan could not well deny him it; and he hoped this would ben sufficient excuse for his absence, especially when what follows should be observed.