Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.
Parallel translations
- WEB Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.
- KJV And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
- BSB Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,
- NKJV Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David.
- NLT Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul openly orders Jonathan and his servants to kill David, but Jonathan delights greatly in David.
Overview
Saul's hostility moves from covert plotting to an open command for murder. Jonathan, though heir to the throne and so David's natural rival, instead loves and protects him, modeling selfless loyalty. His covenant friendship with David, grounded in delight rather than ambition, pictures a love that lays self-interest aside for another's good.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Sam 18:1When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- 1 Sam 18:9Saul watched David from that day and forward.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 19:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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