I Samuel 20:19 · Bible study
1 Samuel 20:19 Commentary: Jonathan's Signal
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of David and Jonathan's secret signal at the stone Ezel. Covenant loyalty, trust in God, and the meaning of this obscure landmark.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David is instructed to wait three days, then meet Jonathan at the stone Ezel for a coded signal about Saul's intentions.
- Key words: shilash (do three times); yarad (go down); ma'aseh (deed/business); Ezel (departure/sign-stone).
- Main debate: Whether 'the business' refers to a former incident (1 Sam 19:1-7) or means 'a working day' as opposed to a festival.
- Theological theme: Covenant loyalty enacted through risky, creative love; trust in God's providence when human plans are fragile.
- Best use: Preaching on friendship under pressure, waiting on God, or the practical shape of faithfulness in crisis.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel.
WEB World English Bible 2000
When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel.
KJV King James Version 1769
And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and on the third day thou dost certainly come down, and hast come in unto the place where thou wast hidden in the day of the work, and hast remained near the stone Ezel.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
but on the third day thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the business, and abide by the stone Ezel.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For thy seat will be empty till after to morrow. So thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou must he hid, on the day when it is lawful to work, and thou shalt remain beside the stone, which is called Ezel.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Estarás pues tres días, y luego descenderás, y vendrás al lugar donde estabas escondido el día de trabajo, y esperarás junto á la piedra de Ezel;
Estarás, pois, três dias, e logo descerás, e virás ao lugar de onde estavas escondido o dia do incidente, e esperarás junto à pedra de Ezel;
Tu descendras le troisième jour jusqu’ au fond du lieu où tu t’ étais caché le jour de l’ affaire, et tu resteras près de la pierre d’Ézel.
Des dritten Tages aber komm bald hernieder und gehe an einen Ort, da du dich verbergest am Werktage, und setze dich an den Stein Asel.
En als gij de drie dagen zult uitgebleven zijn, kom haastig af, en ga tot die plaats, waar gij u verborgen hadt ten dage dezer handeling; en blijf bij den steen Ezel.
Domani l’altro dunque tu scenderai giù fino al luogo dove ti nascondesti il giorno del fatto, e rimarrai presso la pietra di Ezel.
Przetoż przez trzy dni będziesz się ukrywał, i zstąpisz prędko, a przyjdziesz na miejsce, gdzieś się był ukrył, gdy była sprawa o tobie, a będziesz siedział u kamienia Ezel.
поэтому на третий день ты спустись и поспеши на то место, где скрывался ты прежде, и сядь у камня Азель;
你等三日，就要速速 下去，到你從前 遇事 所 藏 的地方，在以色 磐石 那裡 等候。
And on the third day it will be specially noted, and you will go to the place where you took cover when the other business was in hand, waiting by the hill over there.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 20:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse gives David precise instructions for a secret meeting after three days, part of Jonathan's plan to learn Saul's intentions. The name Ezel likely means 'departure' or 'sign-stone,' marking the place of their final farewell. The Cambridge Bible notes that the Septuagint reads 'beside yonder heap of stones,' suggesting a natural landmark rather than a named monument. Barnes and Gill observe that the stone is not mentioned elsewhere except possibly in 1 Samuel 20:41. The phrase translated 'when the business was in hand' or 'on the day the trouble began' points back to an earlier incident (1 Samuel 19:1-7) when Jonathan first defended David to Saul, as Wesley and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown explain. Together, these details show a carefully arranged signal, arrows shot by Jonathan, a boy sent to retrieve them, and a coded message, designed to protect David from Saul's murderous intent.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- 'Previous incident' reading: The phrase 'when the business was in hand' refers to the earlier event in 1 Samuel 19:1-7 where Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul (Wesley, JFB).
- 'Working day' reading: The Hebrew 'yom hamma'aseh' can mean 'the day of the work,' i.e., a profane day when work is permitted, as opposed to a festival (Gill, citing Septuagint and Targum).
What is clear: Both readings agree that Jonathan arranges a secret signal at a specific landmark after three days, showing covenantal loyalty and careful planning to protect David from Saul.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'when the business was in hand' | Commentators agree the phrase refers to a previous matter involving David and Jonathan discussing Saul's hostility. | Some (Wesley, JFB) identify it with the incident in 1 Samuel 19:1-7 when Jonathan first warned David. Others (Gill, following the Septuagint and Targum) read it as 'on a working day,' a profane day as opposed to a festival. |
| Identity of the stone Ezel | All agree it was a known landmark used for the meeting; the name likely means 'departure' or relates to 'going.' | Jewish tradition (Targum) interprets it as 'the stone that shows the way,' a signpost. The Septuagint reads 'beside yonder heap of stones,' suggesting a cairn. Cambridge notes it could be natural rocks or ruins. |
| Three-day timing | The three days allow Jonathan to observe Saul's response to David's absence and report safely. | Where David stayed during those three days is unclear: Gill suggests Bethlehem or another location, while some think he remained hidden in the field nearby. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This scene unfolds during the new moon festival, a sacred occasion when the king held a state dinner. David's absence would be noticed, as he was expected to sit at the king's table. The elaborate ruse with arrows and a boy stems from mortal danger: Saul had already thrown a spear at David (1 Samuel 19:10) and sent messengers to kill him. Jonathan, the crown prince, risks his own life by protecting David.
The phrase 'stayed three days' likely means David would remain away from court, perhaps with his family in Bethlehem, as Gill suggests, or hidden elsewhere, then return to the hiding place in the field. The 'stone Ezel' was evidently a well-known landmark in the area between Ramah and Nob, possibly at a crossroads, since its name (from a root meaning 'to go') led some Jewish interpreters to call it 'the stone that shows the way' (Targum). The Septuagint, however, renders it as 'beside yonder heap of stones,' indicating a cairn or ruined structure suitable for concealment.
The three-day wait has precedent: earlier David told Jonathan he would hide in the field 'to the third day at evening' (1 Samuel 20:5). The timing allowed Jonathan to observe Saul's reaction to David's absence over two consecutive days (the new moon and the following day) before sending the signal. In a culture without instant communication, such detailed planning was essential for survival.
Textual Notes
Consulted sources note one significant variant. The Septuagint replaces 'stone Ezel' with a phrase meaning 'beside yonder heap of stones' (Cambridge Bible). This reading may indicate that the translator did not recognize 'Ezel' as a proper name or that a different Hebrew text was used. No other textual variations in this verse are reported by the commentaries cited.
Reception History
In Jewish exegesis, the stone Ezel was understood as a directional marker (Targum: 'sign-stone') and became a symbol of the parting of ways between David and Jonathan. Christian commentators from the Reformation onward, including Matthew Henry and Wesley, read the passage as an example of godly friendship willing to sacrifice for righteousness. Some medieval interpreters allegorized the stone as Christ, the firm foundation on which covenant promises rest. In modern preaching, the verse is often used to explore themes of trust, loyalty, and the courage required to protect the vulnerable. The elaborate arrow signal continues to capture imagination as a picture of faithful communication in dangerous times.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Peril demands precision. David's life is at stake, so Jonathan designs a signal with no room for error. The three-day wait, the specific hideout, the arrow code, every detail matters when danger is real.
- Covenant loyalty creates creative courage. Jonathan's plan risks his father's anger and his own safety. Love for David drives him to think through every step, using everyday objects (arrows, a boy, a stone) as tools of rescue.
- God works through landmarks. The stone Ezel became a memorial of faithfulness. God does not always send angels; sometimes He uses a rock by the road to mark where help arrived.
Five-point outline
- The Setting: A court dinner and an empty seat, David's absence is a test.
- The Plan: Three days of waiting, then a hidden meeting at a stone.
- The Signal: Arrows shot beyond or beside a boy, carrying life or death in their direction.
- The Risk: Jonathan's love for David may cost him the throne, but he acts anyway.
- The Trust: Both men place their future into God's hands, saying 'Yahweh is between you and me forever' (v.23).
Illustration hooks
- A text message code you arrange with a friend before a difficult conversation: 'If I say 'bananas,' it means everything is fine. If I say 'pineapple,' get out fast.'
- A family meeting spot if you get separated at a crowded event. The stone is your landmark, simple, fixed, remembered.
- Waiting three days for test results, not knowing if the news will be good or bad. That gap between uncertainty and clarity is where trust either grows or frays.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How far should I go to protect a friend who is in danger?
- What do I do when the people I trust are at odds with each other?
- How can I discern when a situation is safe and when I need to leave?
Leading a Discussion
Jonathan and David are in a desperate spot. Saul hunts David, and Jonathan must find out his father's intentions without revealing his loyalty. This conversation shows two people willing to risk everything for covenant faithfulness. As you work through these questions, notice the creativity and courage their friendship demands, and the God who stands between them.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse carefully. What specific instructions does Jonathan give David? List every detail.
- Why do you think a signal with arrows was necessary? What does that tell you about the level of danger David faced?
- The stone Ezel is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Why might the writer include its name? What does that suggest about the importance of this meeting?
- How does Jonathan's plan in this verse connect to his earlier promise in 1 Samuel 20:12-13? What does this consistency reveal about his character?
- In what ways do you see God's providence at work even in this carefully plotted scheme?
- Jonathan is the king's son, yet he sides with David, the man who will take his throne. What does that cost him? Have you ever had to choose loyalty over personal gain?
- If you were David, how would you feel waiting three days, not knowing what Jonathan would discover? Where do you struggle to trust God's timing in your own waiting?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 19:2 | Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, live in a secret place, and hide yourself. |
| I Samuel 20:5 | David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the stone Ezel is obscure, appearing nowhere else in Scripture except possibly a later verse where his note addresses it.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator notes that the stone named Ezel likely means "stone of departure," commemorating where David and Jonathan parted. Yet the Septuagint reads it as a natural heap of stones for hiding, while the Targum renders it a "sign-stone." The phrase "when the business was in hand" may refer to the events of 1 Samuel 19 or another unknown matter.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note highlights the exact instructions for David’s concealment: a three-day wait, then a quick trip to the same hiding place by the stone Ezel. The specific time and location stress the careful, prearranged nature of Jonathan’s signal to David.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that David likely spent the three days away from the field, probably in Bethlehem, and only returned quickly to the hiding place later. He also notes that the stone Ezel is interpreted variously by Jewish commentators, either as a signpost directing travelers or as a customary meeting spot for David and Jonathan.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the hiding place as the same spot David used during Saul's earlier pursuit, and explains that Ezel means "stone of the way," a milestone that marked where David was to wait while Jonathan gathered news.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights that the narrative does not condemn David's deceptive excuse as a necessary lie, but shows it backfired by enraging Saul further. He suggests David and Jonathan should have trusted God unconditionally rather than resorting to deceit, since their covenant was rooted in the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the remarkable self-denial in this covenant: Jonathan, the king's son, willingly sets aside his own claim to the throne and binds himself and his descendants to David's future house. The love that drives him looks beyond the present danger to secure lasting kindness for his family even after his own death.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that "Ezel" designates a stone used as a landmark or direction marker for travelers, and near it there was a cave or convenient hiding place. He also notes that the phrase "was in hand" refers to the earlier occasion when Jonathan and David investigated Saul's intentions toward David.