1 Samuel 19 3

1 Samuel 19:3 kjv

And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

1 Samuel 19:3 nkjv

And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you."

1 Samuel 19:3 niv

I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."

1 Samuel 19:3 esv

And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you."

1 Samuel 19:3 nlt

I'll ask my father to go out there with me, and I'll talk to him about you. Then I'll tell you everything I can find out."

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 3 Meaning

This verse describes Jonathan's faithful and courageous plan to intervene on behalf of David, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty despite his father King Saul's decree to kill David. Jonathan proposes a strategic meeting with his father in a private setting where David is hidden nearby, intending to advocate for David and discern Saul's true intentions. He promises to report back to David, ensuring transparency and providing the necessary information for David's safety. This action highlights Jonathan's selfless love, covenant fidelity, and wisdom in seeking to mediate a volatile situation.

1 Samuel 19 3 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the deteriorating relationship between King Saul and David. In the preceding verses (1 Sam 19:1-2), Saul, consumed by envy and murderous rage, explicitly orders his son Jonathan and his servants to kill David. Jonathan, aware of Saul's irrational decree and David's innocence, faces an agonizing dilemma between familial loyalty to his father and his solemn covenant with David. This specific verse reveals Jonathan's immediate response to Saul's threat – a courageous and cunning plan to avert the crisis, showing his unwavering love and strategic wisdom in prioritizing David's life. The setting in "the field" is crucial for its privacy, allowing for frank discussion between father and son while protecting David's whereabouts.

1 Samuel 19 3 Word analysis

• And I will go out: וְיָצָאתִי (ve-yātsā’tî). The verb "go out" indicates a deliberate, active initiative by Jonathan. It's not passive, but a determined act to step into the dangerous situation, placing himself between Saul's wrath and David's life.
• and stand beside my father: וְעָמַדְתִּי עַל יַד אָבִי (ve-‘āmadtî ‘al yaḏ ‘āvî). "Stand beside" signifies physical proximity and readiness for direct confrontation and engagement. "My father" (אָבִי, avi) underscores the complex family dynamic, highlighting Jonathan's position as both son and loyal friend, challenging the familial authority for the sake of justice.
• in the field: בַּשָּׂדֶה (baśśādeh). A place typically used for agricultural work or private gatherings away from the public court. Its significance here lies in providing a private setting conducive to a potentially explosive conversation, ensuring no unwanted ears. It also hints at David's clandestine location for safety.
• where you are: אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה שָׁם (ʾăšer ʾattâ šām). This precise instruction shows Jonathan's acute awareness of David's current hiding place, reinforcing the intimacy of their bond and Jonathan's role as David's protector and informant.
• and I will speak to my father about you: וְדִבַּרְתִּי אֶל אָבִי עָלֶיךָ (ve-dibbartî ʾel ʾāvî ‘āleḵā). "Speak" (דִּבֶּר, dibber) suggests not a casual chat, but a serious conversation, an earnest pleading, an intercession. Jonathan intends to act as an advocate for David, defending his character and actions directly to Saul.
• and if I learn anything, I will tell you: וְרָאִיתִי מַה יִּהְיֶה וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ (ve-rā’îtî mah yihyeh ve-higadtî lāḵ). "Learn" in some translations (ESV) stems from "see" (רָאָה, ra’ah) in the Hebrew, which often implies perceiving or understanding the deeper reality or intention, not just literal seeing. Jonathan's purpose is to ascertain Saul's genuine disposition and plan. The promise "I will tell you" (וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ, ve-higadtî lāḵ) highlights the crucial role of communication and transparency in maintaining David's safety, forming a direct promise within their covenant.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field": This phrase portrays Jonathan's active, brave initiative to physically place himself in the line of potential conflict, seeking a private setting for a crucial, potentially dangerous, dialogue. It reveals his deliberate strategy.
• "where you are, and I will speak to my father about you": This pairing emphasizes Jonathan's specific protective intent for David. It signifies his role as a confidential mediator, speaking on David's behalf directly to his persecutor while safeguarding David's location. This act implicitly challenges Saul's divine right by asserting a moral standard of justice.
• "and if I learn anything, I will tell you": This final clause underlines the critical element of reliable information-sharing central to their covenant of trust. Jonathan acts as an intelligence gatherer, ensuring David is fully informed to react appropriately, demonstrating complete loyalty and strategic forethought for David's survival.

1 Samuel 19 3 Bonus section

Jonathan, as Saul's eldest son and the apparent heir to the throne, had every worldly reason to see David as a rival to be eliminated. His choice to defend David instead, even risking his father's wrath and his own royal prospects, reveals a profound spiritual understanding and moral integrity. This decision aligns Jonathan with God's divine anointing of David, implicitly acknowledging a higher sovereignty than his father's earthly kingship when the king acts contrary to God's will. Jonathan's self-sacrificial love and advocacy for David also serve as an Old Testament type of the ultimate intercession, where one puts oneself at risk to bring reconciliation or protection to another, prefiguring Christ's role as the advocate and mediator for His people.

1 Samuel 19 3 Commentary

This verse stands as a testament to Jonathan’s extraordinary character—his unwavering devotion, strategic insight, and profound selflessness. Jonathan faces a profound conflict: the king's direct order versus the covenant of friendship and righteous justice. His response is not flight or passive acceptance but proactive intervention. He doesn't merely hope for the best; he plans, steps into danger, and intercedes. This act portrays Jonathan as a faithful covenant keeper who places the life and safety of his friend above his own self-interest, familial ties, and even his likely succession to the throne. His willingness to mediate on David's behalf reflects a type of intercessory love, prioritizing the wellbeing of another over personal risk or gain.