King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 20:29 Mean?

1 Samuel 20:29 in the King James Version says “And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me t... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

1 Samuel 20:29 · KJV


Context

27

And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

28

And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:

29

And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

30

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? Thou: or, Thou perverse rebel: Heb. Son of perverse rebellion

31

For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die . shall: Heb. is the son of death


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

Jonathan expands the explanation with details lending credibility: family sacrifice, brother's command, polite request. The phrase 'if I have found favour in thine eyes' uses deferential language. Mentioning the brother's command shifted responsibility away from David's initiative. Jonathan concluded definitively: 'Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.' The elaborate explanation provided cover while testing Saul's true response. Every detail had been planned to create plausible reason for absence while provoking revelation of Saul's intentions.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Family sacrifices at ancestral locations were regular religious obligations. Brothers typically organized family gatherings, making this detail believable. The polite request formula 'if I have found favour' was standard deferential speech.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do careful details create believable explanations?
  2. What does Jonathan's elaborate response reveal about the preparation required for difficult conversations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 29 words
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר1 of 29

And he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי2 of 29

Let me go

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

נָ֡א3 of 29
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

כִּ֣י4 of 29
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

זֶבַח֩5 of 29

hath a sacrifice

H2077

properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)

מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה6 of 29

I pray thee for our family

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

לָ֜נוּ7 of 29
H0
בָּעִ֗יר8 of 29

in the city

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

וְה֤וּא9 of 29
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

צִוָּה10 of 29

he hath commanded

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

לִי֙11 of 29
H0
אֶחָ֑י12 of 29

and my brother

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

וְעַתָּ֗ה13 of 29
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

אִם14 of 29
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

מָצָ֤אתִי15 of 29

me to be there and now if I have found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

חֵן֙16 of 29

favour

H2580

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ17 of 29

in thine eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

אִמָּ֥לְטָה18 of 29

let me get away

H4422

properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn

נָּ֖א19 of 29
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה20 of 29

I pray thee and see

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֶת21 of 29
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶחָ֑י22 of 29

and my brother

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

עַל23 of 29
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כֵּ֣ן24 of 29
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

לֹא25 of 29
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

בָ֔א26 of 29

Therefore he cometh

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל27 of 29
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שֻׁלְחַ֖ן28 of 29

table

H7979

a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃29 of 29

not unto the king's

H4428

a king


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 20:29 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 20:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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