Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.
Parallel translations
- WEB Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
- KJV And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
- BSB Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him; so Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.
- NKJV Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David.
- NASB Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike and kill him; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.
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 hurls his spear at Jonathan, who then knows his father is fully determined to kill David.
Overview
Saul's attempt to strike his own son makes plain the depth of his murderous rage. The spear, already twice thrown at David, now threatens Jonathan, confirming Saul's settled intent. Jonathan's last doubt is removed, and the test is decisively answered: David must flee for his life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Sam 18:11and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David even to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
- 1 Sam 20:7If he says, ‘It is well;’ your servant shall have peace: but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
- 1 Sam 19:10Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he stuck the spear into the wall. David fled, and escaped that night.
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 20:33 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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