The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:6 Explained

1 Samuel 20:6

KJV: If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

YLT: if thy father at all look after me, and thou hast said, David asked earnestly of me to run to Beth-Lehem his city, for a sacrifice of the days is there for all the family.

Darby: If thy father should actually miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

ASV: If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thy father  at all  miss  me, then say,  David  earnestly  asked  [leave] of me that he might run  to Bethlehem  his city:  for [there is] a yearly  sacrifice  there for all the family. 

What does 1 Samuel 20:6 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:1-16 - Friendship's Covenant
Life becomes intolerable when suspense is long drawn out; hence David's appeal to his friend. Besides, he yearned for one more glimpse of the dear home at Bethlehem, and to drink of "the well which was by the gate." The talk between the friends was heart-breaking to both. Only those who have experienced the severance of loving communion and intercourse can fathom the depth and bitterness of the waters that began to roll between the two friends.
Jonathan is one of the noblest types of manhood presented in Scripture biography. Whether in private or public life, he shone with peerless beauty, as a star in a dark sky. David said of him that he was "lovely and pleasant." Jonathan had a clear prevision of David's coming greatness, but it gave him no pang of jealousy. He loved his friend better than himself, so much, indeed, that it was a richer ecstasy for Jonathan to see David crowned and exalted than to ascend the throne himself. Love casts out jealousy. This friendship was ideal; and we can only ask that we may realize something of its sweetness, and know the love of Christ after the same fashion. [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 20:6 mean?

If at all misses me your father then say earnestly asked [permission] of me David that he might run over to Bethlehem his city for [there is] a sacrifice yearly there for all the family
אִם־ פָּקֹ֥ד יִפְקְדֵ֖נִי אָבִ֑יךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ נִשְׁאֹל֩ נִשְׁאַ֨ל מִמֶּ֤נִּי דָוִד֙ לָרוּץ֙ בֵּֽית־ לֶ֣חֶם עִיר֔וֹ כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיָּמִ֛ים שָׁ֖ם לְכָל־ הַמִּשְׁפָּחָֽה

פָּקֹ֥ד  at  all 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
יִפְקְדֵ֖נִי  misses  me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
אָבִ֑יךָ  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֗  then  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
נִשְׁאֹל֩  earnestly 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
נִשְׁאַ֨ל  asked  [permission] 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
מִמֶּ֤נִּי  of  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
דָוִד֙  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לָרוּץ֙  that  he  might  run  over 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
לֶ֣חֶם  Bethlehem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֵּית לֶחֶם  
Sense: a city in Judah, birthplace of David.
עִיר֔וֹ  his  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
זֶ֧בַח  [there  is]  a  sacrifice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
הַיָּמִ֛ים  yearly 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
לְכָל־  for  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַמִּשְׁפָּחָֽה  the  family 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.

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