Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”
Parallel Translations
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Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”
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Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
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Then said David to Jonathan: 'Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?'
Cross-references (8)
Passages linked to 1 Samuel 20:10 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 42:7 Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”
- Genesis 42:30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.
- 1 Samuel 20:30-34 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!” Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
- 1 Samuel 25:10 Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.
- 1 Samuel 25:14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Greet our master; and he insulted them.
- 1 Samuel 25:17 Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”
- 1 Kings 12:13 The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
- Proverbs 18:23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (10 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain If thy father do favor me.
If thy father do favor me.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Sa 20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall…
1Sa 20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
Ver. 10. Who shall tell me?] Since thou canst neither come, nor send to me with any safety.
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If thy father answer thee roughly.] As indeed he did, Et tristoribus dictis atrocia facta coniungebat, as Tacitus saith of Tiberius; he spake stones, and threw daggers. {1Sa 20:30; 1Sa 20:33}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain By what means or messenger shall I understand this?…
By what means or messenger shall I understand this? for peradventure thou wilt not be able to come to me thyself.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?....…
Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?.... The disposition of Saul's mind towards him, whether he gave a kind answer to the report of Jonathan concerning him:
or what if thy father answer thee roughly? or hard words, as the Targum, whether he answers in a kind, loving, and smooth manner, or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here, how he should be informed of this, since especially, if in the latter, it would not be safe for Jonathan to come himself to him, nor could he well trust the message with any other. Abarbinel thinks, that the first of these expressions is by way of question, who should declare to him his father's will and intention, whether good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry, woe unto me, if thy father should answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my account.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 10. Who shall tell me?] Who shall give…
Verse 10. Who shall tell me?] Who shall give me the necessary information? What means wilt thou use to convey this intelligence to me?
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 10. Who shall tell me, &c.] The double question…
10. Who shall tell me, &c.] The double question answers to Jonathan’s double promise in 1Sa_20:12-13, that he will let David know the result in either event. But perhaps the words should be rendered simply, who shall tell me if haply thy father answer thee roughly?
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (10) Who shall tell me? or what if thy…
(10) Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?—The language in the original is here very abrupt and involved. Evidently the very words uttered in the memorable scene by the excited and sorrowful friends are remembered and reported.
The “if” supplied in the English Version probably is nearest the meaning intended to be conveyed by the broken, agitated words. Another rendering is, “If thy father shall answer thee harshly, who will declare it to me?”
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“These questions of David were suggested by a correct estimate of the circumstances—namely, that Saul’s suspicions would lead him to the conclusion that there was some understanding between Jonathan and David, and that he would take steps, in consequence, to prevent Jonathan from making David acquainted with the result of his conversation with Saul.”—Keil.
In the next verse Jonathan leads David into a solitary spot—“the field”—where, before saying their last words together, they might agree upon some secret sign by means of which Saul’s real mind towards David might be communicated, if necessary, by Jonathan to his friend.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Who shall tell me? or what if, etc. The…
Who shall tell me? or what if, etc. The if is an insertion of the A.V Really David"s question is very involved and ungrammatical, as was natural in his excited state. It may be translated, "Who will tell me (or, how shall I know) what rough answer thy father will give thee?" But some Jewish authorities render, "Who will tell me if so be that thy father give thee a rough answer?"
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain What if thy father answer thee roughly?
1Sa_20:10
What if thy father answer thee roughly?
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A word for the persecuted
I. Our first point is, what you may do, what there is a possibility of you doing, should your friends answer you roughly.
1. You may by-and-by be offended. I mean that you may leave Christ altogether, because you cannot bear his cross.
2. Or, it may happen to you that, instead of being by-and-by offended, you may continue for awhile, but you may gradually give way, and at last yield altogether. There are many among us who could bear to lose our heads at a stroke for Christ, but to be burned at a slow fire--ah, that would try us!
3. But if left to ourselves we may fall into what is as bad as open apostasy. When we find the father, or the wife, or the friend answering us roughly, we may make a pitiful compromise between Christ and the world.
4. I will tell you what you may do also, and I pray that the Holy Spirit may lead you to do it. You may take up humbly, but firmly, this decided stand:--If my father answer me roughly he must do so, but I have another Father who is in heaven and I shall appeal to him. If the world condemn me, I shall accept its condemnation.
II. What the trial will do for us if we are helped to bear up under it. What if thy father answer thee roughly?
1. First, it will grieve us. It is by no means pleasant to be opposed in doing right by those who ought to help us in it. It is very painful to flesh and blood to go contrary to those we love.
2. The opposition of your friends will try your sincerity. If you are a hypocrite you will soon yield to opposition.
3. The rough answers of opponents will try your faith. You say you believe in Jesus: now we shall see if you do, for if you cannot bear a little trial from men and women, surely you will not be able to bear the worse trials from the devil and his angels. If you cannot bear the trials of life, how will you endure the ordeals of death?
4. Persecution will try your love to Jesus. If you really love Him you will cheerfully stand in the pillory of reproach with Him. Your valiant soldier in quiet barracks at home could fight, no doubt, but how do you know till he has passed through a campaign?
5. The rough answers of those who should be your friends will keep us awake. I think it was Erskine who used to say, Lord, deliver me from a sleepy devil.
6. Such afflictions drive you to your knees.
7. Trials from the enemies of Jesus confirm our faith. Those who are never tried usually possess a poor, tottering faith, but trial, especially persecution, is like the rough March wind which goes howling through the forest, and while the young oaks are almost torn up by the roots at first, it loosens the soil for them, and they send out more rootlets, till they get such a firm grip that they defy the hurricane.
8. Rough speeches, too, will have this good effect, upon genuine Christians, it will lead them to plead for those who utter them.
9. Certainly opposition has another good effect, that it drives those subject to it into the truly separated path; they are known to be Christians, and proclaimed as such by their revilers.
10. One good effect of being persecuted at home is this, it makes you gentler abroad.
III. How should you behave under the trial?
1. Never court opposition.
2. Endure whatever you have to endure with the greatest possible meekness.
3. After bearing with meekness return good for evil. For cruel words return warmer love and increased kindness. The most renowned weapon for a Christian to fight his antagonists with is that of overcoming evil with good.
4. Here let, me also remark that to this gentle endurance there must be added by the persecuted Christian much exactness of life.
IV. In doing all this what comfort may you expect.
1. You may have this for your comfort, that the persecutor is in Gods hands. He cannot do more than God lets him, and if God permits him to annoy, you may cheerfully bear it.
2. Next, remember, if you keep your conscience clear it is a great joy. Rough answers outside need not trouble you while within there is the answer of a good conscience towards God. Injure your conscience and you lose that consolation; preserve it from evil and you must be happy.
3. Remember that by patiently enduring and persevering you will have fellowship with the grandest spirits that ever lived.
4. Remember, too, that if you have extraordinary troubles Jesus will be doubly near to you.
5. You have the sweet thought also that you are doing more good where you are than if you were placed altogether among the godly. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
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