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1 Samuel 20:7

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 20:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
1 Samuel 20:7 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
5And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
6If 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.
7If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.
8Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
10Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?
← 1 Samuel 20:61 Samuel 20:8 →
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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
“If he say thus, [it is] well, etc.] It is very well, it is very good and right in him to do so: thy servant shall have peace; it will be a token that the wrath of the king was removed, and that his mind was well disposed towards David, and things had taken an happy turn, and would issue in his peace and prosperity: but if he be very wroth; with Jonathan for giving leave, and with David for going away: [then] be sure that evil is determined by him; that he has a settled obstinate malice in his heart, which is become implacable and inveterate, and confirmed in him; and that it is a determined point with him to slay David if possible, which he hoped to have an opportunity of doing at that time…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“It is well: Deu 1:23; Sa2 17:4 evil: Sa1 20:9, Sa1 25:17; Est 7:7 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:8”
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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