I Samuel 20:35-42 · Bible study
1 Samuel 20:35-42 Commentary: Jonathan's Arrow
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
The hidden signal between Jonathan and David, the innocent boy, and the cost of covenant loyalty in 1 Samuel 20:35-42.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jonathan signals David to flee through a prearranged archery code, then they share a covenant farewell.
- Key words: na‘ar (boy/servant), chets/chetzi (arrow), berith (covenant, implied), shalom (peace).
- Main debate: Whether Jonathan’s return to Gibeah was loyalty to his father or tragic acquiescence to an unjust regime.
- Theological theme: Covenant love that risks safety for the sake of God’s anointed.
- Best use: Teaching on friendship, loyalty, and the cost of faithful action in a hostile environment.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him.
36He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.
37When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
38Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
39But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.
40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
WEB World English Bible 2000
35In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
36He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
38Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”
41As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept with one another, and David wept the most.
42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.
KJV King James Version 1769
35And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
36And 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.
37And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
35And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
36And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
35And it cometh to pass in the morning, that Jonathan goeth out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little youth is with him.
36And he saith to his youth, `Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am shooting;' the youth is running, and he hath shot the arrow, causing it to pass over him.
37And the youth cometh unto the place of the arrow which Jonathan hath shot, and Jonathan calleth after the youth, and saith, `Is not the arrow beyond thee?'
38and Jonathan calleth after the youth, `Speed, haste, stand not;' and Jonathan's youth gathereth the arrows, and cometh unto his lord.
39And the youth hath not known anything, only Jonathan and David knew the word.
40And Jonathan giveth his weapons unto the youth whom he hath, and saith to him, `Go, carry into the city.'
41The youth hath gone, and David hath risen from Ezel, at the south, and falleth on his face to the earth, and boweth himself three times, and they kiss one another, and they weep one with another, till David exerted himself;
42and Jonathan saith to David, `Go in peace, in that we have sworn--we two--in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah is between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed--unto the age;' and he riseth and goeth; and Jonathan hath gone in to the city.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
35And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field, to the place agreed on with David, and a little lad with him.
36And he said to his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. The lad ran, and he shot the arrow beyond him.
37And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow away beyond thee?
38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not! And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39And the lad knew nothing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.
41The lad went, and David arose from the side of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have both of us sworn in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever! And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
35And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field according to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him.
36And he said to his boy: Go, and fetch me the arrows which I shoot. And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy.
37The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot: and Jonathan cried after the boy, and said: Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee.
38And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: Make haste speedily, stand not. And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and brought them to his master:
39And he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: Go, and carry them into the city.
41And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was toward the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together; but David more.
42And Jonathan said to David: Go in peace: and let all stand that we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 20:35
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this passage narrates the execution of a prearranged signal between Jonathan and David, designed to warn David of Saul’s murderous intent while keeping the plan hidden from observers. The presence of the little boy (na‘ar qaton) is a deliberate literary and security feature: his ignorance (v.39) protects him and confirms that only Jonathan and David “knew the matter” (yade‘u et-haddavar). Keil and Delitzsch note the narrative is concise, touching only the main points. Matthew Henry, Wesley, and Barnes all stress that Jonathan’s shouted words to the boy were coded messages aimed at David. Clarke adds that phrases like “Make speed, haste, stay not” actually urged David to flee, though the boy thought they were for him. The final scene of weeping, bowing, and the covenant oath (v.42) shows the deep personal cost of Jonathan’s loyalty, he chose covenant over family, risking his father’s rage.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The narrative records a real, prearranged warning signal using arrows and a servant, followed by a private farewell sealed with a covenant oath in Yahweh's name.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The boy’s role | The boy is a necessary cover to deliver the signal without arousing suspicion; he is not a participant in the secret. | Some see the boy as a simple servant used instrumentally; others note he may represent the ‘outsider’ who unknowingly serves God’s purposes. |
| Jonathan’s return to the city | Jonathan did not defect to David but remained in Saul’s court, fulfilling his filial and military duties. | Protestant commentators (Matthew Henry, Barnes) praise his nobility and loyalty; some modern readers question whether he should have broken fully with Saul to side with David. |
| The archery signal | It was a literal, pre-planned code (arrow beyond = danger; arrow short = safe). | Whether three arrows were shot (implied by 1 Sam 20:20) or just the one narrated; the Hebrew text has a singular/plural variation (chetzi vs. chetzim). |
| David’s weeping “the most” | David’s grief was greater because he lost wife, friend, home, and access to worship. | Some attribute his deeper weeping to his emotional temperament; others to the cumulative weight of his losses compared to Jonathan’s single loss of a friend. |
| The covenant formula “Yahweh is between us” | This binds both parties and their descendants in a sacred, permanent loyalty before God. | Catholic and Orthodox traditions see this as a type of the enduring covenant of God with His people; some Protestant interpreters emphasize it as a personal vow without sacramental implications. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The setting is the royal city of Gibeah during the New Moon festival (1 Sam 20:5, 24-27). Saul’s feast had just ended with open hostility: he hurled a spear at Jonathan for defending David (v.33). Jonathan left the table in “fierce anger” (v.34), knowing his father was determined to kill David. The next morning, he went to the field at the prearranged place, likely near the “stone Ezel” mentioned in 1 Sam 20:19. The Hebrew lemo‘ed David (“at the time appointed with David”) suggests a precise plan.
Archery was a common military skill, but here the bow and arrows become tools of covert communication. Jonathan shoots “beyond” the lad (leha‘aviro), using a code: if arrows fell short, David was safe; if beyond, danger (1 Sam 20:22). The boy, a servant sent to retrieve arrows, is a perfect cover, his running and fetching look normal to any spy. After sending the boy to the city with his equipment (v.40), Jonathan has a private moment with David. David’s threefold bow (v.41) acknowledges Jonathan’s rank as king’s son, but their kiss and weeping show an affection that transcends status. The covenant oath in Yahweh’s name, binding their descendants “forever” (v.42), draws on ancient Near Eastern treaty language, giving this friendship a sacred, permanent character.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note one significant textual variant. In verse 36 the Kethib (written text) uses the singular ha-chets (“the arrow”) while the Qere (read text) has ha-chitzim (“the arrows”). Keil and Delitzsch argue the singular is original, used generically, and the Qere is a later harmonization with the plural context. The BHS apparatus also notes a possible reading in verse 41: instead of “from beside the Negev” (m’etsel ha-negev), the Septuagint reads “from beside the heap of stones” (argab), which corresponds to the “stone Ezel” of 1 Sam 20:19. The translation of keilav (v.40) as “artillery” in older English versions is a period term for missile weapons, not a textual issue.
Reception History
This passage has been treasured across Christian history as the biblical model of self-sacrificing friendship. Early church fathers like Ambrose and Chrysostom cited Jonathan’s loyalty as a type of Christ willing to risk everything for the beloved. In the Middle Ages, the story was used in sermons on the virtue of amicitia (friendship) and the cost of faithfulness. The Jewish tradition frames it as an example of chesed, covenantal lovingkindness, and honors both figures as righteous. Protestant Reformers like Calvin saw in it a picture of the believer’s covenant with God: sworn in God’s name, binding across generations. The phrase “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David” (1 Sam 18:1) often accompanies this passage. Modern readers return to it when facing hard choices between loyalty to God’s anointed and loyalty to family or institutions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The hidden signal (vv.35-39). Jonathan’s words to the boy sound ordinary but carry life-or-death meaning for David. The boy understands only the surface; David interprets the code. Secrecy is not deception, it’s wisdom when enemies threaten.
- The risk of covenant loyalty (vv.40-41). Jonathan disarms himself (gives away his bow) and meets David in private. Sending the boy away leaves him exposed, but love overrides caution.
- The cost of farewell (vv.41-42). The weeping shows real grief. Jonathan returns to the city, back to a dangerous father, while David goes into exile. Covenant commitment sometimes demands heartbreak.
Five-point outline
- Setting the stage: the threat and the plan (vv.35-36)
- The signal executed: arrow beyond the boy (v.36-37)
- The coded shout: “Hurry! Don’t delay!” (v.38)
- The revelation and parting (vv.39-41)
- The covenant reaffirmed: “Yahweh is between us” (v.42)
Illustration hooks
- A parent making coded signals to a child in a dangerous situation, using everyday words that carry hidden meaning.
- A friend who risks their own safety to warn someone of an approaching threat, even when it means personal loss.
- The difficulty of saying goodbye when you know you may never see someone again, especially when circumstances are unfair.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why didn’t Jonathan just flee with David? Why return to his father?
- Was the coded signal a form of deception, and is that allowed?
- What does it mean to have a covenant with someone “forever” in a broken world?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows covenant friendship in action during a crisis. As you read, notice that the secret is kept not through deception but through silence and a clever code. The boy is not a pawn but a necessary third party who unknowingly carries out the plan. How do you handle situations where loyalty to a friend conflicts with loyalty to family or authority?
Discussion questions
- Why does the narrator emphasize that only Jonathan and David knew the matter (v.39)? What does that tell you about their relationship?
- Jonathan says words like “hurry” and “don’t delay” to the boy, but the message is for David. Can communication that conceals intent ever be ethical? Why or why not?
- David bows three times before Jonathan (v.41). In what ways do we honor those who place themselves at risk for us?
- They weep together, but “David wept the most.” What does this detail suggest about their emotional positions at the moment of parting?
- Jonathan’s parting words include a covenant phrase: “Yahweh is between me and you … forever.” How does this change the meaning of their friendship beyond mere human affection?
- Jonathan gives his weapons to the boy and sends him back to the city (v.40). What does this act of laying down arms symbolize in your view?
- How does this story challenge our own ideas of loyalty, especially when it means opposing someone in power?
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 20:19 | 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. |
| II Samuel 20:5 | So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him. |
| I Samuel 20:20 | I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark. |
| I Samuel 20:22 | But if I say this to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away. |
| Psalms 55:6 | I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. |
| Psalms 55:9 | Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. |
| Proverbs 6:4 | Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. |
| Proverbs 6:5 | Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights how David chose to flee rather than fight, trusting God's timing instead of seizing power he could have taken. He notes that David's loss was total: friend, wife, country, and even access to worship. Yet David left the kingdom entirely in God's hands, knowing that faith does not rush ahead of God's way.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes treats the location as a textual problem, suggesting the original Hebrew described a heap of stones or ruin called Argab rather than an unintelligible direction. He interprets David's three bows as a gesture of both unshaken loyalty to Saul's son and acknowledgment that Jonathan held power over his life.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes how Jonathan orchestrated the arrow signal with precise timing and location so David could hear the cry clearly while the lad remained unaware. He notes that David wept more than Jonathan because he faced not only losing his friend but also leaving the sanctuary and worship of God, which distressed him most.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies that Jonathan’s shouted arrow directions were a prearranged signal warning David of danger. He also explains that “artillery” in older English simply meant archery or missile weapons. After dismissing the boy, the two friends met, with David honoring Jonathan’s royal rank before their heartfelt, hurried farewell.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observe that the narrative is told very concisely, touching only the main points. They draw attention to the aposiopesis in Jonathan's parting words, where emotional strain leaves the sentence unfinished. They also note that the phrase describing David's hiding place as "from the south side" was mistranslated by most early versions except Aquila and Jerome.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights the psychological depth in the scene: Jonathan's denial that Saul intends David harm is not naive ignorance but a conviction based on Saul's pattern of intermittent madness. He believes Saul's earlier murderous rage was a temporary episode, not a settled plan.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry's focus is on the coded word "beyond" as the fatal signal that only David understood. He highlights Jonathan's careful plan: using the innocent lad as a messenger while the king's son carried out his promise to warn his friend.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies two archaic terms. "To" means "near" rather than "at," since the following text shows he had not yet arrived. "Artillery" refers to his personal weapons: bow, arrows, and quiver, not modern cannon or siege engines.