1 Samuel 20:36
New International Version
and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

New Living Translation
“Start running,” he told the boy, “so you can find the arrows as I shoot them.” So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

English Standard Version
And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

Berean Standard Bible
He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
Then he said to his lad, “Now run, find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

New American Standard Bible
He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” The boy ran, and he shot an arrow past him.

NASB 1995
He said to his lad, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the lad was running, he shot an arrow past him.

NASB 1977
And he said to his lad, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the lad was running, he shot an arrow past him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to his young man, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the young man was running, he shot an arrow past him.

Amplified Bible
And he said to his boy, “Run, please find the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him.

Christian Standard Bible
He said to the servant, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.” As the servant ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said to the young man, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.” As the young man ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

American Standard Version
And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

Contemporary English Version
and told him, "When I shoot the arrows, you run and find them for me." The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow so that it would go beyond him.

English Revised Version
And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Run," he told the boy, "please find the arrows I shoot." The boy ran, and Jonathan shot the arrow over him.

Good News Translation
and said to him, "Run and find the arrows I'm going to shoot." The boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

International Standard Version
Jonathan told his servant, "Run, find the arrows that I'm shooting." As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.

Majority Standard Bible
He said to the boy, ?Run and find the arrows I shoot.? And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

NET Bible
He said to his servant, "Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot." As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.

New Heart English Bible
He said to the boy, "Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow, sending it toward the city.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow, beyond him.

World English Bible
He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says to his youth, “Now run, find the arrows which I am shooting”; the youth is running, and he has shot the arrow, causing [it] to pass over him.

Young's Literal Translation
And 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to the boy, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot The boy ran, and he shot the arrows beyond him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to his boy, “Go, and bring to me the arrows that I shoot.” And when the boy had run, he shot another arrow away from the boy.

New American Bible
There he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows.” And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him.

New Revised Standard Version
He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to his lad, Run, gather up the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to the boy: “Run! Gather the arrows which I shoot!” The boy ran and he shot an arrow beyond him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto his lad: 'Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.' And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to the boy, Run, find me the arrows which I shoot: and the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow, and sent it beyond him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Seeks to Kill Jonathan
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?”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 18:4
And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

1 Samuel 19:2
so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.

1 Samuel 23:16-18
And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, / saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” / So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

2 Samuel 1:26
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

2 Samuel 9:1
Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

2 Samuel 15:32-37
When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. / David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. / But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’ ...

2 Kings 4:29
So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment, take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

2 Kings 9:1-3
Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. / When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room. / Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!”

Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. / But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. / We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. / You are My friends if you do what I command you. / No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

Acts 9:25
One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

Acts 20:37-38
They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him. / They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

Run

1 Samuel 20:20,21
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark…

beyond him [heb] to pass over him

1 Samuel 20:21,22
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth…

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1 Samuel 20
1. David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11. Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18. Jonathan's token to David
23. Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35. Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David














He said to the boy
This phrase introduces us to the interaction between Jonathan and his servant boy. The Hebrew word for "boy" here is "נַעַר" (na'ar), which can refer to a young man or servant. In the context of ancient Israel, it was common for young men to serve in various capacities, often learning from their masters. Jonathan's choice to involve the boy in this task reflects a level of trust and the boy's role in the unfolding events.

Run and find the arrows
The command to "run" (Hebrew: "רוּץ" - ruts) indicates urgency and immediacy. This is not a casual request but a directive filled with purpose. The act of finding the arrows is part of a prearranged signal between Jonathan and David, highlighting the importance of communication and trust in their friendship. The arrows themselves symbolize the message of safety or danger, a clever use of everyday objects to convey deeper meanings.

I shoot
The act of shooting arrows (Hebrew: "יָרָה" - yarah) is not merely a physical action but a symbolic gesture. In the ancient Near East, archery was a skill associated with warfare and hunting, but here it serves a peaceful purpose. Jonathan's shooting of the arrows is a covert means of communication, demonstrating wisdom and discretion in a time of political tension.

As the boy ran
The boy's obedience and quick response are crucial to the success of Jonathan's plan. His running (Hebrew: "רוּץ" - ruts) again emphasizes the urgency of the situation. This action reflects the boy's role as a faithful servant, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, where servanthood is often portrayed as a virtue.

he shot an arrow beyond him
The phrase "beyond him" (Hebrew: "לְעֵבֶר" - le'ever) is significant in the context of the signal to David. The arrow going beyond the boy indicates that David must flee, as it was a prearranged sign of danger. This moment is pivotal in the narrative, as it confirms Saul's intent to harm David and solidifies the bond between Jonathan and David. The use of such a simple act to convey a profound message underscores the ingenuity and depth of their friendship.

(36) He shot an arrow beyond him.--This was the sign agreed on if all was over for David at the court of Saul. Expositors are in a little difficulty, though, here, as only one arrow is mentioned, whereas "three" had to be shot according to the terms of the understanding. We cannot imagine, as some have suggested, that "Jonathan shortened the affair, and shot only once, considering that there was danger in delay," and that every moment was of consequence; had there been such need of haste, the parting scene would have been cut even shorter. It is better, with Keil, to assume that the "singular" here stands in an indefinite general way, the author not thinking it needful, after what he had before said, to state that Jonathan shot three arrows one after another.



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

to the boy,
לְנַעֲר֔וֹ (lə·na·‘ă·rōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

“Run
רֻ֗ץ (ruṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7323: To run

and find
מְצָ֥א (mə·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

[the arrows] I
אָנֹכִ֖י (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

shoot.”
מוֹרֶ֑ה (mō·w·reh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

And as the boy
הַנַּ֣עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

ran,
רָ֔ץ (rāṣ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7323: To run

Jonathan
וְהֽוּא־ (wə·hū-)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

shot
יָרָ֥ה (yā·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3384: To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teach

an arrow
הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים (ha·ḥiṣ·ṣîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2678: An arrow

beyond him.
לְהַעֲבִרֽוֹ׃ (lə·ha·‘ă·ḇi·rōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on


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OT History: 1 Samuel 20:36 He said to his boy Run find (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 20:35
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