1 Samuel 20:11 kjv
And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
1 Samuel 20:11 nkjv
And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So both of them went out into the field.
1 Samuel 20:11 niv
"Come," Jonathan said, "let's go out into the field." So they went there together.
1 Samuel 20:11 esv
And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.
1 Samuel 20:11 nlt
"Come out to the field with me," Jonathan replied. And they went out there together.
1 Samuel 20 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 18:3 | Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. | Foundation of their covenant bond. |
| 1 Sam 19:1 | Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants about killing David. | Immediate danger to David, prompting the need for counsel. |
| 1 Sam 19:2 | But Jonathan, Saul’s son, loved David very much. | Jonathan's loyalty and affection for David. |
| 1 Sam 23:16 | Then Jonathan, Saul's son, went to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God. | Reinforcement of their covenant and mutual encouragement in difficult times. |
| Pss 55:12-14 | It is not an enemy... but you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. | Betrayal and the value of trusted friendship, in contrast to David's situation with Saul. |
| Pss 57:1 | Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge... | David's frequent need for divine refuge from his enemies. |
| Pss 64:1-2 | Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; Preserve my life from dread of the enemy. | Plea for protection from deadly plots, mirroring David's fears. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. | Importance of seeking wise counsel in dangerous situations. |
| Prov 18:24 | A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Describes Jonathan's profound loyalty to David. |
| Mt 10:23 | When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. | Practical instruction for fleeing persecution, reflecting David's impending flight. |
| Jn 3:2 | This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi..." | Example of seeking private counsel due to dangerous circumstances. |
| Gen 26:28-29 | Then they said, "We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you... So let there now be an oath between us... | Making a covenant with God's blessing, often involving an agreement or shared space. |
| Gen 31:44-46 | "Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant... and let them gather stones... | Entering a covenant by going to a specific, secluded place for an agreement. |
| Deut 23:2 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord... | The concept of separation or exclusion for specific purposes. |
| Mk 1:45 | But He went out and began to preach freely... So they could not openly enter the city... | Jesus seeking isolated places to speak when public visibility was difficult or dangerous. |
| Isa 32:2 | A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a shelter from the storm... | Jonathan acting as a metaphorical "shelter" for David. |
| Amos 5:14 | Seek good and not evil, that you may live... | Call to right action in the face of peril, similar to Jonathan guiding David. |
| Lk 22:31-32 | Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat... but I have prayed for you. | Intercessory protection from danger by a loyal friend/leader. |
| Rom 12:10 | Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love... | Christian principle of brotherly love, mirroring David and Jonathan's bond. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time... | Urgency and wisdom in facing perilous times. |
| Col 3:12 | Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness... | The virtuous character of compassion exemplified by Jonathan. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfishness... but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. | Jonathan's selfless action, putting David's safety above his own dynastic ambitions. |
1 Samuel 20 verses
1 Samuel 20 11 Meaning
1 Samuel 20:11 describes a pivotal moment of proposed secrecy and counsel between Jonathan and David. Jonathan's words, "Come, let us go out into the field," are an invitation for David to leave the public presence of the court and retreat to a secluded location. This private setting is essential for them to discuss Saul's murderous intentions against David without fear of being overheard, thereby planning David's escape and solidifying their life-preserving covenant.
1 Samuel 20 11 Context
1 Samuel chapter 20 depicts a profound demonstration of covenant loyalty between Jonathan, King Saul's son, and David. Following King Saul's escalating and increasingly erratic attempts to kill David, David flees to Jonathan for clarity and a desperate plea for help. David's words to Jonathan reveal his extreme vulnerability and sense of impending doom. Jonathan, despite being the natural heir to the throne David is prophesied to take, proves his unwavering love and faithfulness. This specific verse (20:11) initiates their critical secret discussion. The historical context is a kingdom in flux, with Saul increasingly under demonic influence and acting irrationally, threatening anyone who seems to support David or diminish his own authority. Their need for a "field" highlights the intense surveillance and danger present even within the royal court, necessitating a completely private setting to deliberate matters of life and death.
1 Samuel 20 11 Word analysis
- So: (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר, wa-yyo'mer, 'And he said' or 'Then he said'). This conjunction links Jonathan's invitation directly to the preceding dialogue and David's desperate plea, indicating it's a direct response and the logical next step in their plan.
- Jonathan: (Hebrew: יְהוֹנָתָן, Yehonatan, 'The LORD has given'). Son of King Saul, and David's loyal friend. His name reflects God's provision, ironically as he becomes a provider of safety for David. He embodies loyalty over kinship/power.
- said: (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר, wa-yyo'mer, 'and he said'). Standard verb for speech. It signifies a clear, deliberate directive.
- to David: (Hebrew: לְדָוִד, lĕ-ḏāwiḏ). David, the son of Jesse, the one anointed by God to be the next king, and the one targeted by Saul. The direct address emphasizes the personal nature of the conversation and Jonathan's focus on David's safety.
- 'Come: (Hebrew: לְכוּ, lekhu, 'go! come!'). An imperative verb, typically singular but used here in the plural as "Let us go," though the form is singular to David. It conveys urgency and initiative. It's a direct summons to action.
- let us go out: (Hebrew: נֵצֵאָה, netse'ah, 'let us go forth'). This is a cohortative verb, indicating a mutual intention or proposal. It expresses an invitation for a shared, immediate action. The "us" underscores their partnership and joint need for secrecy.
- into the field': (Hebrew: הַשָּׂדֶֽה, ha-ssadeh, 'the field'). The definite article 'the' suggests a specific, perhaps pre-determined, or commonly understood 'outside' area known for privacy. Fields were common agricultural or wilderness areas outside settlements, offering seclusion from prying eyes. This location contrasts sharply with the king's court, where conversations could be overheard and spies were likely present. It is a symbol of their need for secrecy and safety.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "So Jonathan said to David": This phrase highlights Jonathan as the initiator and primary speaker in this critical juncture. It underscores his active role in formulating a plan and extending protection to David.
- "'Come, let us go out'": This imperative, combined with the cohortative, signifies Jonathan's decisiveness and shared commitment. It's not a command but an urgent, joint invitation to a necessary action for both their sakes.
- "'into the field'": The choice of location is paramount. "The field" symbolizes a place away from the ears and eyes of Saul and his servants. It is a necessary shift from the treacherous confines of the court to an environment where unfiltered, life-or-death dialogue can occur in secret, symbolizing trust and urgency.
1 Samuel 20 11 Bonus section
The choice of "the field" (Hebrew: hassadeh) for their secret meeting has deeper resonance. In the Bible, fields can represent places of work, encounter, revelation, and sometimes conflict. Here, it functions primarily as a place of privacy and strategy. This scene emphasizes the acute danger David faced, indicating that even in Saul's palace, there was no safe space for genuine, truthful conversation about the king's intentions. Jonathan’s proactive step to remove them from any potential surveillance demonstrates not only his deep love for David but also his strategic intelligence in navigating the perilous political landscape. The simple command to go into the field holds the weight of their profound friendship and the high stakes of divine purpose concerning the future king of Israel.
1 Samuel 20 11 Commentary
1 Samuel 20:11, though brief, marks a crucial turning point in the unfolding drama of David's life. It is the immediate consequence of David's desperate question in verse 3, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" Jonathan's invitation to "the field" is not merely a change of scenery; it is an act of profound loyalty and a necessary step for life-saving counsel. In a royal court filled with paranoia and treachery orchestrated by King Saul, absolute privacy was essential for such a dangerous conversation. The field thus becomes a sanctuary, a secure space where the deep bonds of their covenant, established in 1 Samuel 18:3, can be openly discussed and their plan of action against Saul's evil intent can be formulated. Jonathan, selflessly disregarding his own royal succession for David's safety, leads the way to a place where genuine trust and love could freely operate, far from the suffocating threat of the king's wrath. This intimate meeting lays the groundwork for the signs Jonathan will use to warn David, highlighting the critical nature of their bond and its divinely ordained purpose in protecting God's anointed.