But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
- BSB But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.
- NKJV But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter.
- NASB But the boy was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.
- NLT He, of course, suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David understood the signal.
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
The boy knows nothing of the matter; only Jonathan and David understand the meaning.
Overview
The narrator confirms that the signal's meaning remained hidden from the servant, known only to the two friends. Their secret communication has succeeded in warning David without exposing the plan. The note highlights the careful loyalty with which Jonathan guarded David's life.
Cross-references & the web
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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 20:39 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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