1 Samuel 19:4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.

◄ 1 Samuel 19:4 ►

New International Version
Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.

New Living Translation
The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could.

English Standard Version
And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.

King James Bible
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good:

New King James Version
Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.

New American Standard Bible
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

NASB 1995
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

NASB 1977
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his works have been very good for you.

Amplified Bible
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

Christian Standard Bible
Jonathan spoke well of David to his father, Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.

American Standard Version
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

English Revised Version
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. "You should not commit a sin against your servant David," he said. "He hasn't sinned against you. Instead, he has done some very fine things for you:

Good News Translation
Jonathan praised David to Saul and said, "Sir, don't do wrong to your servant David. He has never done you any wrong; on the contrary, everything he has done has been a great help to you.

International Standard Version
Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. "The king shouldn't wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.

NET Bible
So Jonathan spoke on David's behalf to his father Saul. He said to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.

New Heart English Bible
Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been toward thee very good:

World English Bible
Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Jonathan speaks good of David to his father Saul and says to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works [are] very good for you;

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan speaketh good of David unto Saul his father, and saith unto him, 'Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works for thee are very good;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jonathan will speak good of David to Saul his father, and he will say to him, The king will not sin against his servant against David, for he sinned not against thee, and because of his doing good to thee greatly:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul his father: and said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Jonathan spoke good things about David to his father Saul. And he said to him: “You should not sin, O king, against your servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his works toward you are very good.

New American Bible
Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, telling him: “The king should not harm his servant David. He has not harmed you, but has helped you very much by his deeds.

New Revised Standard Version
Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant David; for he has not sinned against you, and his works are sufficient proof of his loyalty to you;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Jonathan spoke good about David to Shaul his father, and he said to him: “Do not let the King sin against his Servant David, because he has not sinned against you, also his deeds are competent to you

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him: 'Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his work hath been very good towards thee;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jonathan spoke favorably concerning David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against thy servant David, for he has not sinned against thee, and his deeds are very good.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Saul Attempts to Kill David
…3I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell you.” 4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 20:32
“Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”

1 Samuel 24:17
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

1 Samuel 25:28-31
Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you as long as you live. / And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling. / When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel, ...

1 Samuel 26:9-11
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

2 Samuel 22:21-25
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. / For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. / For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes. ...

Proverbs 24:11-12
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. / If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. / Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 26:16
Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!”

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 27:23
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

Luke 23:41
We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

John 7:51
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

Acts 5:34-39
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. / “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. / Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ...

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Acts 23:9
A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

Treasury of Scripture

And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been to you-ward very good:

spake good

1 Samuel 20:32
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

1 Samuel 22:13
And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

Proverbs 24:11,12
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; …

sin against

1 Samuel 2:25
If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 42:22
And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

because his works

Psalm 35:12
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

Psalm 109:4,5
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer…

Proverbs 17:13
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

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1 Samuel 19

1. Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
4. He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
9. Hannah in grief prays for a child
12. Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
19. Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
24. She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord

Berean Study Bible

Then Jonathan spoke well of David
Jonathan, the son of King Saul, demonstrates remarkable loyalty and integrity by advocating for David. The Hebrew root for "spoke well" (דִּבֶּר טוֹב) implies not just speaking positively but also speaking truthfully and with good intent. Jonathan's actions reflect a deep friendship and covenant with David, as seen in earlier chapters. This phrase highlights the biblical principle of standing up for righteousness and truth, even when it may be personally costly or dangerous.

to his father Saul
The relationship between Jonathan and Saul is complex, as Saul is both his father and the king. In ancient Israel, the family unit was central, and loyalty to one's father was paramount. However, Jonathan prioritizes God's anointed, David, over familial loyalty, demonstrating a higher allegiance to God's purposes. This act of speaking to his father also shows Jonathan's courage and wisdom, as he navigates the tension between familial duty and divine justice.

and said to him, 'Let not the king do wrong
The phrase "do wrong" (חָטָא) in Hebrew can also mean "to sin" or "to miss the mark." Jonathan is appealing to Saul's conscience and his role as king, urging him not to commit an injustice against David. This appeal is rooted in the understanding that kingship in Israel was under God's authority, and any action against God's anointed servant would be a sin against God Himself. Jonathan's respectful yet firm approach serves as a model for addressing authority figures with truth and grace.

to his servant David
Referring to David as "his servant" emphasizes David's loyalty and service to Saul. Despite Saul's growing jealousy and hostility, David remains faithful to his king. This phrase underscores the biblical theme of servanthood and humility, which is later exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. David's role as a servant also foreshadows his future as a servant-king, a man after God's own heart.

He has not wronged you
Jonathan asserts David's innocence, using the Hebrew word עָשָׂה (asah), meaning "to do" or "to act." This statement is a direct challenge to Saul's unfounded jealousy and paranoia. It serves as a reminder of the importance of truth and justice, calling Saul to recognize David's blamelessness. In a broader biblical context, this reflects the call for believers to be blameless and above reproach in their conduct.

and what he has done has benefited you greatly
Jonathan highlights the positive impact of David's actions on Saul's reign. The Hebrew word for "benefited" (מְאֹד) conveys the idea of abundance and greatness. David's victories and leadership have strengthened Saul's kingdom, and Jonathan's reminder is a call to gratitude and recognition of God's blessings through others. This phrase encourages believers to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of others, recognizing that God often works through people to bring about His purposes.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Jonathan spake good of David.--The heir to the throne--the one above all men likely to be injured by the growing popularity of David--with great power and intense earnestness, represented to his father the king the great virtues, the unrivalled gifts, and, above all, the splendid services of the young soldier whose life Saul was so anxious to cut short. "See,' urged the eloquent pleader for his friend's life, "on that ever memorable occasion when he fought the giant, when he aimed the pebble of the brook from his shepherd's sling, he put his life in his hand. Had he missed a hair's-breadth, the giant would have slain him, and the deliverance then wrought for Israel would never have been accomplished."

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 4-7. - In the field Jonathan intercedes for David, assures his father of his friend's innocence, reminds him of his noble exploit, and of Saul's own joy at it, and beseeches him not to shed innocent blood. And Saul, fickle and selfish, yet not destitute of noble feelings, repents of his purpose, and with characteristic impetuosity takes an oath that David's life shall be spared. Whereupon a reconciliation takes place, and David resumes his attendance upon the king's person. RENEWED ATTEMPT TO SLAY DAVID FRUSTRATED BY MICHAL (vers. 8-17).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then Jonathan
יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

well
ט֔וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

of David
בְּדָוִד֙ (bə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his father
אָבִ֑יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Saul
שָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

and said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to him,
אֵ֠לָיו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“The king
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

should not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

sin
יֶחֱטָ֨א (ye·ḥĕ·ṭā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

against his servant
בְּעַבְדּ֣וֹ (bə·‘aḇ·dōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

David;
בְדָוִ֗ד (ḇə·ḏā·wiḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

he has not
ל֤וֹא (lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

sinned
חָטָא֙ (ḥā·ṭā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

against you.
לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

In fact,
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

his actions
מַעֲשָׂ֖יו (ma·‘ă·śāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

[have been] highly
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

beneficial
טוֹב־ (ṭō·wḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

to you.
לְךָ֥ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

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OT History: 1 Samuel 19:4 Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)