1 Samuel 20:26
◄  1 Samuel 20:26  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, "Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean--surely he is unclean."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Saul didn't say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, "Something must have made David ceremonially unclean."

English Standard Version (©2001)
Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought, "It is an accident, he is not clean, surely he is not clean."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, "Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean--yes, that's it, he is unclean."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Saul didn't say anything that day because he told himself, "Something has happened; he's unclean; surely he's not clean."

NET Bible (©2006)
However, Saul said nothing about it that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to make him ceremonially unclean. Yes, he must be unclean."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Saul didn't say anything that day, thinking, "Something has happened to him so that he's unclean. He must be unclean."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day: for he thought, Something has befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

American King James Version
Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day: for he thought, Something has befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

American Standard Version
Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said nothing that day, for he thought it might have happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified.

Darby Bible Translation
And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen him, that he is not clean: surely he is not clean.

English Revised Version
Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

World English Bible
Nevertheless Saul didn't say anything that day: for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean."

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul hath not spoken anything on that day, for he said, 'It is an accident; he is not clean -- surely not clean.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:24-34 None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take God's people for our people. It will prove to our advantage at last, however it may now be thought against our interest. Saul was outrageous. What savage beasts, and worse, does anger make men!

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Nevertheless, Saul spake not anything that day,.... About David's absence, took no notice of it, said nothing about it:

for he thought something had befallen him; some impurity, some nocturnal pollution, see Leviticus 15:16,

he is not clean, surely he is not clean; which he repeated in his mind for the confirmation of it, and in contempt, and to the reproach of David; and in this way he accounted for his absence the first day, and so was easy, it not being lawful and fitting for an unclean person in a ceremonial sense to eat of the peace offerings, which Saul and his family were now partaking of.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

26. he is not clean—No notice was taken of David's absence, as he might be laboring under some ceremonial defilement.

1 Samuel 20:26 Parallel Commentaries

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Jonathan and David Renew Covenant
…25And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. 26Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day: for he thought, Something has befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 27And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why comes not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? …

Leviticus 7:20 But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD, they must be cut off from their people.
Leviticus 7:21 Anyone who touches something unclean--whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground --and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD must be cut off from their people.'"
Leviticus 15:5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
1 Samuel 16:5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 20:27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David's place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"