1 Samuel 20:7
New International Version
If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me.

New Living Translation
If he says, ‘Fine!’ you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.

English Standard Version
If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.

Berean Standard Bible
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
If he says thus: ‘It is well,’ your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that evil is determined by him.

New American Standard Bible
If he says, ‘That is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, be aware that he has decided on evil.

NASB 1995
“If he says, ‘It is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.

NASB 1977
“If he says, ‘It is good,’ your servant shall be safe; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.

Legacy Standard Bible
If he says, ‘It is good,’ your servant will have peace; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.

Amplified Bible
If he says, ‘All right,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, then be certain that he has decided on evil.

Christian Standard Bible
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If he says, 'Good!' then I will be safe. But if he gets really angry, then you'll know for sure that he has decided to harm me.

Good News Translation
If he says, 'All right,' I will be safe; but if he becomes angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.

International Standard Version
If he says, 'Good,' then your servant will be safe. But if he actually gets angry, you will know that his intentions are evil.

Majority Standard Bible
If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.

NET Bible
If he should then say, 'That's fine,' then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.

New Heart English Bible
If he says, 'It is well;' your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.

Webster's Bible Translation
If he shall say thus, It is well; thy servant will have peace: but if he shall be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

World English Bible
If he says, ‘It is well,’ your servant shall have peace; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If thus he says: Good; [there is] peace for your servant; and if it is very displeasing to him—know that the evil has been determined by him;

Young's Literal Translation
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;

Smith's Literal Translation
If thus he shall say, Good; peace to thy servant; and if kindling, it shall kindle to him, know that evil was finished with him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If he will say, ‘It is well,’ then your servant will have peace. But if he will be angry, know that his malice has reached its height.

New American Bible
If he says, ‘Very well,’ your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm.

New Revised Standard Version
If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If he says thus, It is well; then your servant shall have peace; but if he is displeased, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If thus he will say, ‘very good’, your Servant will have peace and if it is very displeasing to him, know that evil is determined from his presence
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If he shall say thus, Well, - all is safe for thy servant: but if he shall answer harshly to thee, know that evil is determined by him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan Helps David
6If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’ 7If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions. 8Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 18:10-11
The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, / and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 19:9-10
But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, / Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

1 Samuel 24:20
Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

1 Samuel 28:15-18
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” / “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? / He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. ...

2 Samuel 11:14-15
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. / In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

2 Samuel 15:31-34
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” / 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. ...

2 Kings 6:11-12
For this reason the king of Aram became enraged and called his servants to demand of them, “Tell me, which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” / But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

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 29:10
Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.

Jeremiah 18:18
Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 26:3-4
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, / and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Mark 3:6
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

It is well

Deuteronomy 1:23
And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

2 Samuel 17:4
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

evil

1 Samuel 20:9
And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

1 Samuel 25:17
Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

Esther 7:7
And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and 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.

Jump to Previous
Angry Clear Decided Determined Displeasing Evil Harm Loses Mind Peace Purpose Safe Servant Sure Temper Wroth
Jump to Next
Angry Clear Decided Determined Displeasing Evil Harm Loses Mind Peace Purpose Safe Servant Sure Temper Wroth
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














If he says, ‘Good,’
The Hebrew word for "good" here is "טוֹב" (tov), which often signifies something that is pleasing, beneficial, or agreeable. In the context of ancient Israel, the word "tov" was not just a casual affirmation but carried a weight of moral and ethical approval. Jonathan is seeking a sign of King Saul's disposition towards David. The use of "good" implies a hope for peace and reconciliation, reflecting the biblical principle that God desires harmony among His people.

then your servant is safe
The term "servant" in Hebrew is "עֶבֶד" (eved), which denotes a person in service or subjection. David refers to himself as Jonathan's servant, highlighting his humility and loyalty. This phrase underscores the biblical theme of servanthood as a position of honor and trust. The word "safe" suggests a state of security and well-being, which in the biblical narrative often implies divine protection. David's safety is contingent upon Saul's response, illustrating the precariousness of his situation and the need for God's providence.

but if he is angry
The Hebrew word for "angry" is "חָרָה" (charah), which conveys a burning or kindling of wrath. Anger in the biblical context is often associated with a loss of control and the potential for sin, as seen in God's warning to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. Saul's anger would be a clear indication of his malevolent intentions towards David. This phrase serves as a reminder of the destructive power of unchecked anger and the importance of seeking God's peace.

you will know that he has evil intentions
The phrase "evil intentions" translates from the Hebrew "רָעָה" (ra'ah), meaning wickedness or harm. In the biblical worldview, evil is not just the absence of good but an active force that opposes God's will. Jonathan's discernment of Saul's intentions is crucial for David's survival. This highlights the biblical call for wisdom and discernment in the face of potential danger. The narrative encourages believers to trust in God's guidance to reveal the true nature of people's hearts.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he says,
יֹאמַ֛ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Good,’
ט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

then your servant
לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (lə·‘aḇ·de·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

is safe,
שָׁל֣וֹם (šā·lō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

but if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he is enraged,
חָרֹ֤ה (ḥā·rōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

you will know
דַּ֕ע (da‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

he has evil
הָרָעָ֖ה (hā·rā·‘āh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

intentions.
כָלְתָ֥ה (ḵā·lə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent


Links
1 Samuel 20:7 NIV
1 Samuel 20:7 NLT
1 Samuel 20:7 ESV
1 Samuel 20:7 NASB
1 Samuel 20:7 KJV

1 Samuel 20:7 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 20:7 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 20:7 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 20:7 French Bible
1 Samuel 20:7 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 20:7 If he says 'It is well (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 20:6
Top of Page
Top of Page