I Samuel 20:7 · Bible study
1 Samuel 20:7 Commentary: When Evil Is Determined
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
David's test to discern Saul's heart: what 'evil is determined' means, and how this verse reveals settled malice. A study in practical wisdom.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A test to discern whether Saul’s hostility is a passing anger or a fixed plan to kill David.
- Key words: “determined” (kalah, perfect tense, completed plotting); “very wroth” (charah, burn with anger); “know” (yada, perceive with certainty).
- Main debate: Is David’s instruction to Jonathan a justified act of prudence or a deception? Both sides seek to be faithful to Scripture.
- Theological theme: Wisdom in navigating danger; the role of covenant loyalty in providing truthful guidance.
- Best use: As a case study in practical discernment and the importance of reliable signs before taking action.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.
WEB World English Bible 2000
If he says, ‘It is well,’ your servant shall have peace; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
KJV King James Version 1769
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
If thus he say: Good; peace is for thy servant; and if it be very displeasing to him--know that the evil hath been determined by him;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
If he say thus, It is well, — thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
If he shall say: It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Si él dijere, Bien está, paz tendrá tu siervo; mas si se enojare|strong="H2734, H2734", sabe que la malicia es en él consumada.
Se ele disser, Está bem, teu servo terá paz; mas se se irar, sabe que a malícia está nele completa.
Et s’ il dit: C’ est bien! Ton serviteur alors n’ a rien à craindre; mais si la colère s’empare de lui, sache que le mal est résolu de sa part.
Wird er sagen: Es ist gut, so steht es wohl um deinen Knecht. Wird er aber ergrimmen, so wirst du merken, daß Böses bei ihm beschlossen ist.
Indien hij aldus zegt: Het is goed, zo heeft uw knecht vrede; maar indien hij gans ontstoken is, zo weet, dat het kwaad bij hem ten volle besloten is.
S’egli dice: Sta bene il tuo servo avrà pace; ma, se si adira, sappi che il male che mi vuol fare è deciso.
Jeźli tak rzecze: Dobrze, pokój będzie słudze twemu; ale jeźli się rozgniewa, wiedz, iż się dopełniła złość jego.
Если на это он скажет: "хорошо", то мир рабу твоему; а если он разгневается, то знай, что злое дело решено у него.
你父親若 說 好，僕人 就平安了；他 若 發 怒，你就知道 他 決意 要害我。
If he says, It is well, your servant will be at peace: but if he is angry, then it will be clear to you that he has an evil purpose in mind against me.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 20:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse presents a test designed to distinguish between a passing fit of rage and a fixed, deliberate intent to kill. Gill describes the settled malice as “obstinate … become implacable and inveterate,” while the Geneva Bible notes that “wickedness is concluded of him.” The Hebrew verb kalah (כָּלָה) appears here in the perfect tense, an action completed, which Carey and others take to mean that the evil has already been determined; it is a settled plot rather than a spontaneous outburst. Matthew Henry captures the practical stakes: if Saul is “very wroth,” then the servant knows “evil is determined by him.” This test gives Jonathan a reliable sign, freeing him from having to guess his father’s moods. The consensus holds that David’s plan is a wise act of discernment, not paranoia, rooted in the covenant bond between the two friends.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Test of settled malice: The perfect tense of <em>kalah</em> suggests completed plotting; Saul’s anger reveals a prior decision to kill.
- Deception for survival: David’s instructions involve a false reason for absence; context of imminent death raises ethical questions.
- Covenant loyalty test: The test also gauges Jonathan’s willingness to act on his oath to David over his duty to Saul.
What is clear: The test provides Jonathan with objective information about Saul’s intentions, enabling him to fulfill his covenant with David faithfully.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'evil is determined' | Most commentators agree it refers to Saul’s settled, premeditated intent to kill David, not a momentary impulse. | Some emphasize human plotting; others open the possibility of divine permission behind the evil. The text itself focuses on Saul’s determination. |
| David’s deception | David instructs Jonathan to give a reason for his absence that is not the whole truth (family sacrifice vs. hiding from Saul). All recognize this as a cover story. | Some traditions see this as a justified act of prudence in a life-threatening situation; others question whether deception is ever permissible, noting that God later protects David without direct condemnation of this plan. |
| Jonathan’s role | Jonathan acts as a faithful covenant partner, willing to risk his father’s anger to protect David. | Some argue Jonathan’s initial disbelief (v.2) shows naivete; others see it as trust in his father. The test resolves his uncertainty. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The new moon festival (v.5) marked a sacred time when the king’s household gathered for a feast (1 Sam 20:5, 6, 18, 24, 27). David, once a courtier and son-in-law, was expected to attend. His absence would raise questions. David’s plan: Jonathan would say he had gone to Bethlehem for a yearly family sacrifice, a plausible explanation (v.6). Saul’s reaction to that news would reveal his true heart.
Earlier, Saul had hurled a spear at David and sent men to kill him (1 Sam 19:9, 10, 20). Yet he also had moments of clarity, and Jonathan struggled to believe his father meant permanent harm (v.2). The test was a practical solution: Saul’s anger at David’s absence would confirm that the earlier attacks were not isolated fits but signs of settled hostility.
This scene also occurs within a covenant relationship. David and Jonathan had sworn loyalty (1 Sam 18:3; 20:8), and that covenant demanded truthful intelligence. The test protected Jonathan from being deceived by a calm response and gave David objective grounds to flee. In an ancient court where a king’s word could shift without notice, such a test was a form of survival.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of 1 Sam 20:7 is stable across major manuscripts, with no significant variants noted in the consulted sources. The construction cha’ro yeche’reh (infinitive absolute + finite verb of חרה) emphasizes the intensity of Saul’s anger, “he will certainly burn” or “be very wroth.” Translations vary between “very wroth” (KJV, ASV) and “angry” (WEB, BSB), but the underlying Hebrew conveys a heightened degree of displeasure.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has been read as a model of practical wisdom in the face of persecution. The Geneva Bible (1599) notes that the test reveals “wickedness … concluded of him,” underscoring the settled nature of Saul’s malice. Reformation-era commentators like Matthew Henry saw a pattern of godly prudence: David does not assume the worst but seeks confirmation through a reliable sign. In more recent centuries, the passage has been discussed in ethical debates about deception for survival. Some argue that David’s cover story is a permissible act of self-preservation, while others urge caution. The narrative continues to be used in teaching about covenant loyalty and the need for honest counsel when danger is present.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The test of a reaction. Saul’s response to a small change, David’s absence from the feast, becomes a window into his heart. Not every anger is the same; a king’s “good” grants peace, while rage reveals a deeper plot.
- The certainty of settled evil. The Hebrew perfect tense of kalah (“determined”) indicates that the evil has already been decided. This is not a momentary whim but a premeditated plan.
- The peace of the faithful. When the one in power says “it is well,” the servant can rest. The verse underscores how the words of a leader affect the safety of those under them.
Five-point outline
- Context: David fears for his life; Jonathan doubts the danger.
- The test: David proposes a cover story and asks Jonathan to watch Saul’s reaction.
- Two outcomes: “It is well” brings peace; “very wroth” means evil is determined.
- The meaning of “determined”: a completed act of plotting, not a passing mood.
- Application: Covenant loyalty demands honest discernment; friends protect each other through truthful intelligence.
Illustration hooks
- A manager reacts with calm or fury when an employee calls in sick, the response tells you more about the manager than the absence itself.
- A friend’s tone when you deliver difficult news reveals whether they trust you or are looking for an excuse to break the relationship.
- In a tense family conflict, a small request (like missing a meal) can act as a litmus test for deeper hostility.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if someone’s anger is dangerous or just a passing irritation?
- When is it right to test someone’s intentions before taking action?
- What does it mean to have a covenant friend like Jonathan, someone willing to risk his own safety for the truth?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows David and Jonathan navigating mortal danger with wisdom and covenant loyalty. Their plan to test Saul’s reaction offers a model for discerning truth when words alone cannot be trusted. As you discuss, consider how the test protects Jonathan from being deceived by his father’s calm and gives David reliable grounds for flight.
Discussion questions
- What exactly does David ask Jonathan to say to Saul, and why is this story plausible? (See vv.5, 6.)
- Why would Saul’s reaction be a reliable sign of his intentions? What does “very wroth” indicate that “it is well” does not?
- The Hebrew verb for “determined” (kalah) is in the perfect tense, a completed action. How does this grammar change the meaning of Saul’s anger?
- Jonathan initially says Saul would never hide such evil from him (v.2). How does this test show that Jonathan needed objective evidence, not just his own assumption?
- Some readers worry that David’s cover story (the family sacrifice) is a lie. Is there a difference between deception for survival and deception for gain? How do you decide?
- How does this passage encourage you to seek wise counsel when facing danger? What does it show about the cost of covenant loyalty?
- In your own life, what signs help you distinguish between normal conflict and someone’s settled malice?
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)
| Deuteronomy 1:23 | The thing pleased me well. I took twelve of your men, one man for every tribe. |
| I Samuel 20:9 | Jonathan said, “Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?” |
| I Samuel 25:17 | Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his house, for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.” |
| II Samuel 17:4 | The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. |
| Esther 7:7 | The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. |
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
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note interprets this as a test of Saul's heart: a calm response signals safety for David, while anger reveals that Saul has already resolved upon evil against him. The anger itself is proof of settled wickedness.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that Saul’s reaction would reveal either peace for David or settled malice. If Saul becomes very angry, it shows a confirmed, implacable determination to kill David, not just a passing mood. The wrath betrays an entrenched evil purpose.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch explains that Jonathan could not believe Saul truly intended to kill David because Saul's previous attacks happened during fits of madness, not when he was clear-minded. Jonathan knew Saul had never shared his murderous hatred with him. David, however, saw deeper into Saul's heart and swore that death was only a step away.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange explains Jonathan's confident denial that Saul seeks David's life as psychologically understandable, not naive. He argues that Jonathan saw Saul's murderous attempt as a temporary relapse from intermittent madness, distinct from the settled hatred David perceived. The oath "thou shalt not die" reflects Jonathan's hope, while David knows there is only a step between him and death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights the comfort of having a loyal friend in high places when an enemy sits on the throne. He notes that God balances hatred with love, so we need not be disturbed by those who oppose us when He also provides those who truly support us.