1 Samuel 20 32

1 Samuel 20:32 kjv

And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

1 Samuel 20:32 nkjv

And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?"

1 Samuel 20:32 niv

"Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father.

1 Samuel 20:32 esv

Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

1 Samuel 20:32 nlt

"But why should he be put to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?"

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 32 Meaning

Jonathan’s words in 1 Samuel 20:32 directly challenge Saul's unjust wrath and reveal his deep loyalty to David. He vehemently questions the king’s murderous intent by demanding to know the reason for David’s decreed death, emphasizing David's complete innocence. This powerful intercession highlights a stark moral conflict within the royal family, with Jonathan prioritizing righteousness and friendship over his own filial duty and potential inheritance.

1 Samuel 20 32 Context

1 Samuel 20 occurs during a pivotal and escalating period of conflict between King Saul and David. Saul’s jealousy and paranoia, rooted in God's rejection of his kingship and the anointing of David, have grown into a murderous obsession. Jonathan, Saul’s son and David's loyal friend, stands at the tragic intersection of familial duty and divine destiny. In this chapter, David and Jonathan confirm their covenant, and devise a plan to ascertain Saul's true intentions towards David. When Saul learns of David’s absence at the new moon feast, his fury erupts. Verse 32 specifically details Jonathan’s brave, open challenge to his father's baseless condemnation of David, culminating in Saul’s desperate attempt to kill his own son for defending David, fully revealing his wicked heart and utter disregard for justice. The historical context reflects a shift in Israel's leadership from Saul to David, amidst significant internal and external pressures.

1 Samuel 20 32 Word analysis

• And Jonathan answered Saul his father:

  • And Jonathan answered (וַיַּעַן יוֹנָתָן – wayya‘an Yônātān): The Hebrew wayya‘an indicates a direct, immediate response, signifying not just speaking back but actively engaging and rebutting. It underscores Jonathan’s decisive intervention. This is not a hesitant murmur but a firm declaration, signifying his deep conviction and moral courage in standing against the powerful King and his own father. His choice to "answer" at this dangerous moment emphasizes his role as an advocate and intercessor.
  • Saul his father: This phrase highlights the tragic and profound family conflict. It emphasizes the natural bond that Saul is perverting, making Jonathan's defiance all the more extraordinary and painful. Jonathan is not merely questioning a king, but a parent who has descended into tyranny, challenging the very core of ancient societal respect for patriarchal authority. It reveals the devastating impact of Saul's sin on his household and the breaking of natural familial allegiances due to unrighteousness.

• and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain?

  • Wherefore (לָמָּה – lāmmāh): This interrogative word signifies a demand for reason or justification. It is a powerful "why," revealing Jonathan’s astonishment and deep moral offense at the king’s unrighteous decree. It implicitly questions the legality and justice of Saul's statement, contrasting arbitrary royal power with divine justice that requires a cause for execution.
  • shall he be slain? (יָמוּת – yamût): This verbal form means "he should die" or "he might die," used here in a rhetorical question implying absurdity. Jonathan presents it as an outrageous proposal lacking any basis, demanding that his father produce a charge. The emphasis is on David's impending and unwarranted death, forcing Saul to articulate a legitimate reason—which he cannot.

• what hath he done?

  • what hath he done? (מֶה עָשָׂה – meh ‘āśāh): This rhetorical question is a strong statement of David's innocence. It serves as an emphatic challenge to Saul, demanding evidence of wrongdoing. Jonathan knows David has done nothing deserving of death. This is not a genuine query for information, but a moral interrogation of his father’s conscience, an invitation to recognize David’s blamelessness in Saul's eyes and before God. This phrase highlights the total lack of justice or evidence for Saul's decree, solidifying Jonathan's defense based on innocence, a foundational principle of biblical justice.

1 Samuel 20 32 Bonus section

• The Polemical Edge: Jonathan's challenge implicitly criticizes the common ancient Near Eastern concept of absolute monarchical power where a king’s word was law, even without justification. By demanding to know "why" and "what," Jonathan invokes a higher standard of justice, one rooted in Mosaic Law (which requires proof and due process before execution) and God’s character, implicitly holding the king accountable to divine standards rather than arbitrary will.
• The Cost of Righteousness: Jonathan's act in this verse directly leads to Saul attempting to kill him (1 Sam 20:33), illustrating the immediate and profound personal cost of standing for righteousness against evil. This willingness to suffer for another further defines Jonathan's integrity and foreshadows the eventual suffering endured by those who champion truth.
• Jonathan as an Example of Love: This episode vividly portrays the nature of genuine love as selfless, sacrificial, and actively defensive of the beloved, mirroring Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. Jonathan’s steadfast love for David, which defied familial obligation, royal decree, and personal ambition, sets a profound example of loyalty born from covenant and shared faith.

1 Samuel 20 32 Commentary

Jonathan’s two rhetorical questions—"Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?"—cut through Saul’s irrational rage with a piercing plea for justice. This brief verse encapsulates the stark contrast between the two men: Saul consumed by baseless hatred, and Jonathan radiating loyal love and righteousness. Jonathan does not hesitate to challenge the arbitrary and tyrannical decree of his own father and king, risking his life and dynastic future for David. His intercession demonstrates the essence of true friendship and faith, upholding the principles of justice even against overwhelming power. This verse marks the ultimate confirmation of Saul’s abandonment of reason and God’s ways, solidifying his tragic trajectory and ironically demonstrating why the kingdom needed to pass from his house. It is a pivotal moment where filial loyalty to God’s righteous path transcends natural family bonds, underscoring Jonathan's extraordinary character.