1 Samuel 20 40

1 Samuel 20:40 kjv

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

1 Samuel 20:40 nkjv

Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city."

1 Samuel 20:40 niv

Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, "Go, carry them back to town."

1 Samuel 20:40 esv

And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city."

1 Samuel 20:40 nlt

Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to take them back to town.

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 40 Meaning

1 Samuel 20:40 describes a crucial action by Jonathan, the son of King Saul, as part of his elaborate plan to protect David from Saul's deadly intentions. After shooting arrows to signal David, Jonathan strategically gives his archery equipment to his servant. This action serves a dual purpose: first, it dismisses the unsuspecting youth from the scene, ensuring privacy for Jonathan's final secret meeting with David; second, it subtly signals to David, who is hiding nearby, that the area is now clear for him to emerge safely without suspicion. Jonathan's thoughtful arrangement showcases his deep loyalty and cleverness in a time of extreme danger.

1 Samuel 20 40 Context

First Samuel chapter 20 narrates Jonathan's unwavering loyalty to David amidst King Saul's increasingly desperate and murderous attempts to kill him. Having tried to confirm Saul's intentions, Jonathan devises an elaborate, coded signal involving archery to communicate with David, who is hiding. The plan involves Jonathan shooting arrows and instructing his servant to retrieve them, using specific phrases ("The arrows are beyond you!" or "The arrows are on this side of you!") to signal to David whether it is safe to return or if he must flee. Verse 40 describes the final, pivotal stage of this prearranged signal, immediately after Jonathan has fired the critical arrows that convey the urgent message to David to flee. This action sets the stage for their emotional farewell. Historically, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of ancient Israel's nascent monarchy, where succession and royal power were matters of life and death, often dictated by divine choice as much as human politics. Saul's paranoid fear of losing his throne to David, whom God had chosen, drives the entire conflict, making Jonathan's intervention crucial for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through David.

1 Samuel 20 40 Word analysis

• Then: wa-yi-ttēn (וַיִּתֵּן) - A simple temporal conjunction, connecting this action immediately to the preceding archery demonstration and signal. It implies the next logical step in Jonathan's prearranged plan.
• Jonathan: The beloved son of King Saul, and David's closest friend. Jonathan consistently displays integrity, deep personal love, and remarkable selflessness throughout the narrative, especially here where he puts his own life and royal prospects at risk for David. His character serves as a stark contrast to his father Saul.
• gave: nātan (נָתַן) - To give, put, place. It signifies a deliberate and intentional transfer of possession and responsibility. This act is not casual but calculated, essential for the execution of his careful deception.
• his weaponry: kēlāyw (כֵּלָיו֙) - The singular noun keli (כְּלִי֙) refers to "vessel, implement, article," but in context here, specifically refers to his military gear, namely his bow and quiver of arrows that he used for the signal. The act of handing them over completes the pretense of a finished archery practice and renders him unarmed and therefore less threatening or suspicious to any observer for the true, covert meeting to occur. It also symbolically implies a temporary relinquishing of his royal/military persona to engage in a private, deeply personal interaction.
• to his youth: na‘ărō (נַעֲר֗וֹ) - From na‘ar, meaning "lad," "young man," "servant." This designates a relatively young, subordinate attendant, implying that this individual is an unwitting participant in Jonathan's ruse. His naiveté and obedience are key to maintaining the charade. His presence, and then his dismissal, maintains the normalcy of the "archery practice" while allowing the confidential exchange to follow.
• and said to him: Direct discourse, indicating a command that is to be immediately obeyed.
• 'Go, carry them: Lēḵ śāʾēm (לֵךְ שָׂאֵ֣ם) - Imperative verbs "Go" (halakh) and "carry/lift" (nasa'). These commands are direct and urgent, emphasizing the need for the servant to leave immediately with the equipment. "Carry them" also signifies a burden, further implying the removal of the equipment from the scene.
• to the city': hā‘îrāh (הָעִ֔ירָה) - "to the city." This most likely refers to Gibeah, Saul's capital and home, from which they would have set out. Sending the equipment back to the city is a final measure to clear the area, eliminating any reason for loitering near David's hiding spot, thereby ensuring ultimate privacy for the farewell.

1 Samuel 20 40 Bonus section

• The detail of Jonathan giving his weaponry is significant. In ancient Israelite society, specific weaponry could be seen as personal and valuable, sometimes inherited or representing status. Entrusting it to a youth for transport suggests the youth's obedient and subordinate role in a carefully staged event, rather than a genuine end to the archery practice.
• The elaborate nature of the "archery practice" (chapters 19 and 20 detail similar "wise as serpents" plans) underlines the intensity of Saul's paranoia and the sheer danger David faced. Such intricate plotting was a matter of life and death, illustrating that Jonathan had to be extraordinarily shrewd to counter his father's madness.
• This verse, and the broader narrative, demonstrates a core biblical theme: even through human cunning, fidelity, and sacrifice, God's divine purpose ultimately prevails. Jonathan’s actions here are instrumental in preserving the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come.

1 Samuel 20 40 Commentary

1 Samuel 20:40 is a precise execution of a clever and necessary plan born of covenant loyalty. Jonathan's seemingly innocuous action of entrusting his archery equipment to his servant is highly strategic. It serves to clear the scene of any witnesses, particularly the naive servant, thereby ensuring the utmost secrecy for his poignant farewell to David. This act finalizes the signal to David: the archery lesson is over, and the path is clear for David to emerge without being observed by the unsuspecting attendant. Beyond the practicalities of the ruse, Jonathan's handling of his keli (weaponry) highlights his focus not on military prowess or his own royal future, but on protecting God's chosen king. He symbolically disarms himself of symbols of status and power, enabling a truly intimate and vulnerable moment between friends. This small detail underscores the immense pressure and cunning required by Jonathan to navigate his dual loyalty to his father and his divinely appointed friend, exemplifying a principled decision to side with righteousness against tyranny.