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Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Douay-Rheims Bible

1 Samuel 20:12

Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover my father’s mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to thee,

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Jonathan;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nob;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Jonathan;   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:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ear;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
Hebrew Names Version
Yonatan said to David, the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?
King James Version
And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
Lexham English Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "Yahweh the God of Israel is my witness that I will question my father by this time the day after tomorrow. And look, if he is well disposed toward you, will I not send word to you and disclose it to you?
English Standard Version
And Jonathan said to David, "The Lord , the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
New Century Version
Jonathan said to David, "I promise this before the Lord , the God of Israel: At this same time the day after tomorrow, I will find out how my father feels. If he feels good toward you, I will send word to you and let you know.
New English Translation
Jonathan said to David, "The Lord God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know?
Amplified Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward you, shall I not then send word to you and make it known to you?
New American Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward you, shall I not then send word to you and inform you?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Ionathan sayde to Dauid, O Lorde God of Israel, when I haue groped my fathers minde to morow at this time, or within this three dayes, and if it be well with Dauid, and I then send not vnto thee, and shewe it thee,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have examined my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and reveal it in your ear?
Contemporary English Version
Jonathan said: I swear by the Lord God of Israel, that two days from now I'll know what my father is planning. Of course I'll let you know if he's friendly toward you.
Complete Jewish Bible
Y'honatan said to David, " Adonai , the God of Isra'el [is witness]: after I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, then, if things look good for David, I will send and let you know.
Darby Translation
And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,
Easy-to-Read Version
Jonathan said to David, "I make this promise before the Lord , the God of Israel. I promise that I will learn how my father feels about you. I will learn if he feels good about you or not. Then, in three days, I will send a message to you in the field.
George Lamsa Translation
And Jonathan said to David. The LORD God of Israel be a witness that I will sound my father about this time tomorrow, the third hour; and behold, if he feels good toward you, then I will send to you, and disclose it to you;
Good News Translation
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.
Literal Translation
And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah the God of Israel be witness when I search my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day , and behold, there is good towardDavid and I do not send to you and do notreveal it in your ear,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Ionathas sayde vnto Dauid: LORDE God of Israel, yf I perceaue by my father tomorow or on the thirde daye, that it goeth well with Dauid, & sende not vnto the, and shewe the before thine eares,
American Standard Version
And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, be witness: when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, or the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?
Bible in Basic English
And Jonathan said to David, May the Lord, the God of Israel, be witness; when I have had a chance of talking to my father, about this time tomorrow, if his feelings to David are good, will I not send and give you the news?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ionathan sayde vnto Dauid: O Lorde God of Israel, when I haue groped my fathers mynd, as this time to morowe, or within these three dayes, and if it be wel with Dauid, and I then sende not vnto thee, and shew it thee:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Jonathan said unto David: 'The LORD, the God of Israel--when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, or the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?
King James Version (1611)
And Ionathan said vnto Dauid, O Lord God of Israel, when I haue sounded my father, about to morrow any time, or the third day, and behold, if there be good toward Dauid, and I then send not vnto thee, and shew it thee;
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Jonathan said to David, the Lord God of Israel knows that I will sound my father as I have an opportunity, three several times, and, behold, if good should be determined concerning David, and I do not send to thee to the field,
English Revised Version
And Jonathan said unto David, The LORD, the God of Israel, [be witness]; when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?
Berean Standard Bible
and Jonathan said, "By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Jonathas seide to Dauid, Lord God of Israel, if Y enquere the sentence of my fadir to morewe, ether in the nexte dai aftir, and ony `thing of good is of Dauid, and Y sende not anoon to thee,
Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan saith unto David, `Jehovah, God of Israel -- when I search my father, about [this] time to-morrow [or] the third [day], and lo, good [is] towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear --
Update Bible Version
And Jonathan said to David, [By] Yahweh, God of Israel: surely I will sound out my father by about this time on the third day, look, if there is good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?
Webster's Bible Translation
And Jonathan said to David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to-morrow any time, [or] the third [day], and behold, [if there be] good towards David, and I then send not to thee, and show it thee;
World English Bible
Jonathan said to David, Yahweh, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?
New King James Version
Then Jonathan said to David: "The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,
New Living Translation
Then Jonathan told David, "I promise by the Lord , the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know.
New Life Bible
Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord, the God of Israel, see it. I will speak with my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day. If he feels good about David, will I not send news to you and let you know it?
New Revised Standard
Jonathan said to David, "By the Lord , the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said Jonathan unto David - Witness be Yahweh God of Israel, that I will sound my father about this time to-morrow or the third day, and lo! if there he good towards David, will I not, then, send unto thee, and unveil thine ear?
Revised Standard Version
And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?

Contextual Overview

9 And Jonathan said: Far be this from thee: for if I should certainly know that evil is determined by my father against thee, I could do no otherwise than tell thee. 10 And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy father should answer thee harshly concerning me? 11 And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field, 12 Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover my father’s mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to thee, 13 May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan, and add still more. But if my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it to thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but if I die, 15 Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever, when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies. 16 Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul. 18 And Jonathan said to him: To morrow is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

O Lord: This verse is evidently deficient. The LXX have ץסיןע ן וןע ףסבחכ ןיהום, "The Lord God of Israel doth know;" the Syraic and Arabic, "The Lord God of Israel is witness;" either of which makes good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts supply the word chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good unto David, and I then send not unto thee," etc.; which is a still better sense. Joshua 22:22, Job 31:4, Psalms 17:3, Psalms 139:1-4

sounded: Heb. searched, Proverbs 20:5, Proverbs 25:2, Proverbs 25:3

show it thee: Heb. uncover thine ear, 1 Samuel 20:2

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 23:18 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 11:29
And Abram and Nachor married wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor’s wife, Melcha, the daughter of Aran, father of Melcha and father of Jescha.
Genesis 12:13
Say, therefore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may be well used for thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel,.... Or by the Lord God of Israel, I swear unto thee; for this is the form of the oath, as Jarchi and Kimchi observe:

when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, [or] the third [day]; searched, inquired, and found out how his disposition is:

and, behold, [if there be] good toward David; if he is well disposed to him, as may appear by speaking respectfully of him, or kindly inquiring after him, and by being satisfied with the account given him:

and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee; then let the vengeance of God fall upon me in some remarkable manner or another, as follows; or "shall I not then send unto thee, and show it thee" t? certainly I will; that is, I will send a messenger to thee to acquaint thee with it, who shall tell it, and cause thee to hear it, as from myself.

t ולא אז אשלח אליך "an non tune mitterem?" Junius Tremellius "nonne tunc mittam ad te?" so some in Vatablus.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 20:12. Jonathan said - O Lord God of Israel — There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The Septuagint has, The Lord God of Israel doth KNOW. The Syriac and Arabic, The Lord God of Israel is WITNESS. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. supply the word chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus, As the Lord God of Israel LIVETH, when I have sounded my father - if there be good, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee, the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. This makes a still better sense.


 
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