Bible/1 Samuel/20

1 Samuel 20:40

20:39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. artillery: Heb. instruments his lad: Heb. the lad that was his

KJV

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Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

And Jonathan gave his artillery to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city. ¶

20:41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

What does 1 Samuel 20:40 mean?

1 Samuel 20:40 is a verse in the book of 1 Samuel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân), נָתַן (nâthan), כְּלִי (kᵉlîy). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
And
JonathanיְהוֹנָתָןYᵉhôwnâthân/yeh-ho-naw-thawn'/H3083Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites
gaveנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
his
artilleryכְּלִיkᵉlîy/kel-ee'/H3627something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
unto
his
lad,נַעַרnaʻar/nah'-ar/H5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
and
saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
unto
him,
Go,יָלַךְyâlak/yaw-lak'/H3212to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
carryבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
them
to
the
city.עִירʻîyr/eer/H5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
artillery:
Heb.
instruments
his
lad:
Heb.
the
lad
that
was
his

Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:40

HENRY_FULL · 1 Samuel 20:40
At this chapter begins the story of David, one that makes as great a figure in the sacred story as almost any of the worthies of the Old Testament, one that both with his sword and with his pen served the honour of God and the interests of Israel as much as most ever did, and was as illustrious a type of Christ. Here I. Samuel is appointed and commissioned to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse at Bethlehem, ver. 1-5 . II. All his elder sons are passed by and David the youngest is pitched upon and anointed, ver. 6-13 . III. Saul growing melancholy, David is pitched upon to relieve him by music, ver. 14-23 . Thus small are the beginnings of that great man.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 3:11

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

1 Samuel 9:12

And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: sacrifice: or, feast

1 Samuel 20:29

And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

1 Kings 18:9

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

Jeremiah 38:26

Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.

Jeremiah 38:27

Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived. they: Heb. they were silent from him

Matthew 10:16

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. harmless: or, simple

Luke 1:34

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Samuel 20:40.

Genesis 1:29

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed

Genesis 11:31

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Genesis 12:5

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Genesis 16:8

And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Genesis 18:7

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

Genesis 19:4

But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

Genesis 21:14

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:19

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Samuel 20:40 say?

1 Samuel 20:40 (King James Version) reads: "And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. artillery: Heb. instruments his lad: Heb. the lad that was his"

Is 1 Samuel 20:40 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel 20:40 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel.

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As you read 1 Samuel 20:40, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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