The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:21 Explained

1 Samuel 20:21

KJV: And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.

YLT: and lo, I send the youth: Go, find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth, Lo, the arrows are on this side of thee -- take them, -- then come thou, for peace is for thee, and there is nothing; Jehovah liveth.

Darby: And behold, I will send the lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; as Jehovah liveth.

ASV: And, behold, I will send the lad,'saying , Go, find the arrows. If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; take them, and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as Jehovah liveth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And, behold, I will send  a lad,  [saying], Go,  find out  the arrows.  If I expressly  say  unto the lad,  Behold, the arrows  [are] on this side of thee, take  them; then come  thou: for [there is] peace  to thee, and no hurt;  [as] the LORD  liveth. 

What does 1 Samuel 20:21 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:17-29 - A Friend At Court
Jonathan most have been strongly tempted to ally himself with his friend, that they might face the world together; but he clung loyally to his father's fortunes, though he knew that he was courting failure and overthrow. At the same time he stood nobly forth at the banquet in defense of his friend. What a rebuke for some of us! The Prince of the kings of the earth is not ashamed to call us brethren, but alas, how often we shrink from acknowledging and confessing Him when in company which refuses to own His supremacy. We are silent when His honor is flouted, we flinch before the rising storm; if we do not take sides against Him, we at least do not speak up on His behalf. Such cowards are we in spite of our covenants!
Saul's jealousy broke out with volcanic vehemence. The king and father abused his son with vile epithets, such as are still employed by Orientals. He demanded David's instant execution, and ended by seeking to take Jonathan's life. Truly it may be said of him, as was afterward said of Judas-Satan had entered into him. Be watchful not to give the smallest foothold to the devil. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 20:21 mean?

And there I will send - a boy [saying] go find the arrows if expressly I say to him Look the arrows [are] on this side of you and get them and come then [there is] safety for you and no harm as lives Yahweh
וְהִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־ הַנַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ מְצָ֣א הַחִצִּ֑ים אִם־ אָמֹר֩ אֹמַ֨ר לַנַּ֜עַר הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֣ים ׀ מִמְּךָ֣ וָהֵ֗נָּה קָחֶ֧נּוּ ׀ וָבֹ֛אָה כִּֽי־ שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֛ וְאֵ֥ין דָּבָ֖ר חַי־ יְהוָֽה

וְהִנֵּה֙  And  there 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אֶשְׁלַ֣ח  I  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַנַּ֔עַר  a  boy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
לֵ֖ךְ  [saying]  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
מְצָ֣א  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
הַחִצִּ֑ים  the  arrows 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֵצִי  
Sense: arrow.
אָמֹר֩  expressly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֹמַ֨ר  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לַנַּ֜עַר  to  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
הִנֵּ֥ה  Look 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
הַחִצִּ֣ים ׀  the  arrows  [are] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֵצִי  
Sense: arrow.
מִמְּךָ֣  on  this  side  of  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
קָחֶ֧נּוּ ׀  get  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
וָבֹ֛אָה  and  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שָׁל֥וֹם  [there  is]  safety 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
לְךָ֛  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
וְאֵ֥ין  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
דָּבָ֖ר  harm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
חַי־  as  lives 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 20:21?

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