1 Samuel 20 36

1 Samuel 20:36 kjv

And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

1 Samuel 20:36 nkjv

Then he said to his lad, "Now run, find the arrows which I shoot." As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

1 Samuel 20:36 niv

and he said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

1 Samuel 20:36 esv

And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

1 Samuel 20:36 nlt

"Start running," he told the boy, "so you can find the arrows as I shoot them." So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 36 Meaning

This verse describes Jonathan's instruction to his young servant, unaware of the hidden message. Jonathan, feigning archery practice, tells the lad to "Run, find the arrows which I shoot." This seemingly simple command is a crucial step in a carefully pre-arranged, secret code with David. It sets up the impending signal—where the arrows land relative to the lad—that will convey whether David needs to flee or is safe from King Saul. It demonstrates Jonathan's cunning strategy to protect David from Saul's murderous intent without revealing the true danger to his own servant.

1 Samuel 20 36 Context

This verse is nested within one of the Bible's most poignant narratives of friendship and loyalty. Chapter 20 of 1 Samuel depicts Jonathan and David's final meeting before David’s prolonged flight from King Saul. Having heard Saul’s murderous intentions towards David directly, Jonathan devises a complex secret code to inform David of his true safety status. This plan involves David hiding in a field while Jonathan shoots arrows with his servant, providing a pre-arranged signal. This entire scheme arises from Saul’s escalating paranoia and jealousy, leading him to unjustly seek David's life, despite David's unwavering loyalty and God’s clear choice of him as the next king. The immediate historical context is David's emergence as a national hero after defeating Goliath, which sparked Saul’s intense envy and the disintegration of their relationship, culminating in Saul’s desperate attempts to kill David.

1 Samuel 20 36 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A common biblical Hebrew narrative device, indicating direct speech. It sets the stage for a command or declaration, highlighting Jonathan's direct agency in this moment.
• to his lad (לְנַעֲרוֹ - le-na'aro):
  • לְ (le-): "to" or "for", indicating the recipient of the command.
  • נַעֲרוֹ (na'aro): Derived from נַעַר (na'ar), meaning "lad," "youth," or "servant." This term frequently refers to an attendant or aide. Here, it signifies a subordinate who is trusted enough to accompany Jonathan but is intentionally kept ignorant of the true, deeper meaning of the archery display. His innocence ensures the secret's security.
• Run (רוּץ - ruts): An imperative verb, "run," implying haste and urgency. Jonathan's tone would have conveyed the need for immediate action, reinforcing the pretense of a normal archery exercise.
• find (מְצָא - metsa'): Another imperative verb, "find" or "locate." This instruction emphasizes the practical goal of retrieving the arrows, completely concealing the true communicative function of their landing spot.
• the arrows (הַחִצִּים - ha-hitzzim):
  • הַ (ha-): The definite article, "the."
  • חִצִּים (hitzzim): Plural of חֵץ (hets), "arrow." Arrows are instruments of skill, battle, and in this unique instance, clandestine communication. They are tangible objects whose location will convey an intangible, life-or-death message.
• which I shoot (אֲשֶׁר אָנוֹכִי יֹורֶה - asher anokhi yoreh):
  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "which," "that," a relative pronoun.
  • אָנוֹכִי (anokhi): "I" or "myself," a strong emphatic personal pronoun. Jonathan is making it clear he is the one shooting them.
  • יֹורֶה (yoreh): Present participle of יָרָה (yarah), meaning "to shoot," "to cast," "to instruct," "to throw." In this context, it describes the ongoing or imminent action of releasing the arrows.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "And he said to his lad": Establishes the authority of Jonathan and the subordinate position of the servant, setting the stage for the unfolding, layered communication.
  • "Run, find the arrows which I shoot": This is the deceptive part of the plan. It's an innocuous command to an unsuspecting party, completely masking the profound implications of the distance and placement of the arrows, which form the true signal to David. It relies on misdirection and specific terminology that means one thing to the lad and another to David.

1 Samuel 20 36 Bonus section

The act of archery and the specific signal using arrows highlights Jonathan’s skill, often emphasized in Scripture (2 Sam 1:22). The "arrows" are not merely physical objects but instruments of a symbolic, non-verbal communication system. This elaborate plan underscores the extreme peril David faced, forcing Jonathan to devise a communication method that circumvented Saul’s constant surveillance and potential spies. It demonstrates Jonathan's strategic foresight and emotional intelligence, contrasting sharply with Saul's impulsive, unreasoned rage. This hidden message within a common act reflects how God often works through subtle means, using ordinary circumstances to accomplish His extraordinary purposes of protecting His anointed.

1 Samuel 20 36 Commentary

This verse captures a pivotal moment of ingenious planning born from extreme duress. Jonathan's words to his lad, seemingly routine, are actually the opening phase of a life-saving, pre-arranged code between him and David. It showcases Jonathan's unwavering loyalty and cunning strategy to navigate his father Saul's dangerous madness. The innocent ignorance of the lad underscores the critical secrecy of the plan, preventing betrayal and protecting both David and Jonathan himself. This act reflects the biblical tension where sometimes morally ambiguous means (like partial deception) are employed in what is presented as a righteous pursuit—preserving innocent life against unjust aggression—echoing similar scenarios like the Hebrew midwives in Exodus or Rahab in Joshua. Jonathan’s actions are not for personal gain but selfless devotion, providing a window into the depth of a God-ordained friendship that actively works to preserve God's chosen king.