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1 Samuel 20:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 20:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
1 Samuel 20:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Then Jonathan said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21And, 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.
22But if I say thus unto the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way; for Jehovah hath sent thee away.
23And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.
24So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.
← 1 Samuel 20:201 Samuel 20:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And, behold, I will send a lad, etc.] That attended on him, and carried his bow and arrows, and fetched his arrows when he had shot them: [saying], go, find out the arrows; where they are fallen, and return them: if I expressly say unto the lad, behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; on one side of him, whether the one or the other, which he would bid him take up, and bring them to him: then come thou; David, out of the place where he hid himself: for [there is] peace to thee, and no hurt, [as] the Lord liveth; he might appear, and not be afraid of being seen by any, since by this sign he might be assured that Saul was well affected to him, and would show him favour, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“I will send - I will send him out before I shoot, to find out, and take up the arrows which I shall shoot. And I shall shoot them either short of him, or beyond him, as I shall see occasion. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:23”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“no: Heb. not any thing as the: Jer 4:2, Jer 5:2, Jer 12:16; Amo 8:14 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:23”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification