1 Samuel 19 1

1 Samuel 19:1 kjv

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

1 Samuel 19:1 nkjv

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.

1 Samuel 19:1 niv

Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David

1 Samuel 19:1 esv

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.

1 Samuel 19:1 nlt

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

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 1 Meaning

This verse marks a critical escalation in King Saul's animosity towards David. It directly states Saul's command, expressed to his own son Jonathan and to all his personal servants, that they should put David to death. This moves Saul's attempts against David from veiled plots and personal assaults to an explicit royal decree for murder, making his intent clear and official.

1 Samuel 19 1 Context

First Samuel chapter 19:1 opens amidst a tense and escalating conflict between King Saul and David. Saul, who was once anointed king, had fallen from divine favor due to his disobedience (1 Sam 15). David, anointed by Samuel at God's command (1 Sam 16), had grown in popularity after slaying Goliath (1 Sam 17) and achieved military success. This ignited intense jealousy in Saul (1 Sam 18:9), who began to view David not as a loyal servant, but as a threat to his throne and dynasty. Prior to this verse, Saul had made multiple attempts on David's life, ranging from personally throwing a spear at him (1 Sam 18:11) to subtly sending him into dangerous battles with the Philistines with the hope that he would be killed (1 Sam 18:17, 25). He had also trapped David with a bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins, expecting David to perish (1 Sam 18:25-27). This verse, however, marks a dramatic shift: Saul's hostility is no longer a hidden animosity or a personal attack, but an open and explicit command issued to his most trusted inner circle to murder David. It signals Saul's full commitment to eradicating the perceived threat David posed.

1 Samuel 19 1 Word analysis

• And Saul: Introduces the subject. Saul, Israel's first king, but now demonstrating an escalating pattern of disobedience, jealousy, and tyrannical behavior fueled by an evil spirit from the Lord (1 Sam 16:14, 18:10). His kingship is increasingly characterized by fear and control rather than faith and divine guidance.
• spoke (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): Implies a direct command or utterance. This is a public and official declaration of intent, not a hidden thought or a personal musing. It carries the weight of a royal decree, though a deeply corrupt one. It indicates a verbal instruction that demands compliance from those addressed.
• to Jonathan (יוֹנָתָן - Yonatan): Saul's eldest son and heir apparent, a highly skilled warrior, and significantly, David's loyal and devoted friend. Jonathan's inclusion in this command creates immense moral and familial conflict, forcing him to choose between his father and his covenant brother (1 Sam 18:3-4). His presence highlights the wickedness and desperation of Saul's request.
• his son: Emphasizes the relationship of authority and expectation Saul held over Jonathan. A father commanding his son in a matter of life and death, intensifying the betrayal of trust.
• and to all his servants: Refers to the royal court, military leaders, and personal attendants who were sworn to obey the king. This broadens the circle of those commanded to participate in or facilitate David's murder, demonstrating Saul's attempt to formalize and enforce the killing throughout his immediate sphere of influence. These were men who would usually execute a king's command without question.
• that they should kill (לְהָמִית - lehamit): The infinitive "to kill" or "to put to death" (from הָמִית - hamit, derived from מוּת - mut, "to die"). This verb explicitly conveys the intent to murder, not merely to defeat in battle or to exile. It signifies taking a life, implying premeditated homicide. For Saul, this command against David, whom God had anointed and whose spirit was with the Lord, was a grievous sin and a direct affront to God's will.
• David (דָּוִד - David): God's chosen future king of Israel, protected by the Lord's hand. He is the target of Saul's malicious plot. His very existence, marked by divine favor and success, was seen by Saul as an existential threat to his own rule, rather than an instrument of God's blessing for the nation.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants": This phrase highlights the complete abuse of royal authority and patriarchal leadership. Saul employs his closest confidants and those under his direct command to participate in his wicked scheme. The fact that he includes Jonathan underscores his warped moral compass, demanding participation in a sin against a righteous individual, a close friend of his son, and God's chosen one. It reveals Saul's descent into a tyrannical and fearful ruler, whose desperation overrides moral and familial bonds.
  • "that they should kill David": This expresses the explicit and grave nature of the command. It leaves no room for ambiguity: the intention is to commit murder. This reflects the apex of Saul's hatred and fear, where all other options have been discarded in favor of outright assassination. It is a decree born of envy and spiritual darkness.

1 Samuel 19 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "kill" (הָמִית - hamit) here implies a deliberate act of putting to death, underscoring the premeditated nature of Saul's decree. The king, who should be upholding justice, is actively commissioning an act of unrighteous murder. This directly contrasts with the very essence of biblical law regarding the sanctity of human life, given by God (Ex 20:13). Saul's actions can be seen as symptomatic of a deeper spiritual decline, where he acts as an agent of the "evil spirit from the Lord" that tormented him, reflecting the destructive nature of unchecked envy and disobedience. The verse subtly highlights the ongoing spiritual warfare: human efforts born of sin opposing divine election and protection.

1 Samuel 19 1 Commentary

1 Samuel 19:1 signifies a dark turning point in King Saul's reign, marking the shift from passive envy and personal attempts to a formalized royal order for assassination. This verse graphically illustrates Saul's escalating depravity, driven by an unholy combination of pride, fear, and a loss of God's favor. By commanding his own son and servants to commit murder, Saul not only abuses his royal authority but also seeks to corrupt those closest to him, compelling them to become accomplices in his sin. The inclusion of Jonathan is particularly poignant, highlighting the tragic divide within Saul's own household and setting the stage for Jonathan's pivotal act of loyalty to David, rather than his father, in the subsequent verses. This malicious command reveals the depth of Saul's rebellion against God's known will concerning David and his kingdom. Despite Saul's kingly power and clear intent, the divine plan for David's ascendance remained inviolable, ultimately frustrating Saul's every murderous attempt. This incident demonstrates that human malice, even from positions of power, cannot ultimately thwart the sovereign purposes of God.