1 Samuel 20:31

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For as long as {H3117} the son {H1121} of Jesse {H3448} liveth {H2425} upon the ground {H127}, thou shalt not be established {H3559}, nor thy kingdom {H4438}. Wherefore now send {H7971} and fetch {H3947} him unto me, for he shall surely die {H1121}{H4194}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Because as long as the son of Yishai lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be secure. Now send and bring him here to me - he deserves to die."

Berean Standard Bible

For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In 1 Samuel 20:31, King Saul's deep-seated paranoia and murderous intent are chillingly revealed as he confronts his son, Jonathan, about David. Convinced that David's continued existence threatens his dynastic ambitions and Jonathan's succession, Saul declares that neither Jonathan nor his kingdom can be "established" as long as "the son of Jesse" lives. This pivotal verse culminates Saul's escalating jealousy into an explicit command for David's death, exposing the king's profound insecurity and his desperate, yet futile, attempt to thwart God's sovereign plan for the future of Israel's monarchy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a highly dramatic and tense narrative arc detailing the deteriorating relationship between King Saul and David, and the steadfast friendship between David and Jonathan. Immediately preceding this, Jonathan has attempted to reason with his father, appealing to David's innocence and loyal service in [1 Samuel 19:4-5](/1_samuel/19-4 "1 Samuel 19:4-5 - Jonathan's Defense of David"). Saul's initial anger in [1 Samuel 20:30](/1_samuel/20-30 "1 Samuel 20:30 - Saul's Rage Against Jonathan") escalates into a direct, violent outburst against Jonathan and a clear, explicit command for David's death in this verse. This conversation marks the final, definitive break in any hope for reconciliation between Saul and David, solidifying David's need to flee and confirming Jonathan's earlier warning to David in [1 Samuel 20:19](/1_samuel/20-19 "1 Samuel 20:19 - Jonathan's Warning to David").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the early monarchy in Israel, a period of transition from a tribal confederacy to a centralized kingdom. Kingship was still a relatively new institution, and the concept of dynastic succession was paramount, with a king's primary goal often being to secure the throne for his descendants. Saul, as Israel's first king, was particularly sensitive to any perceived threat to his nascent dynasty. The cultural expectation was that a king's son would succeed him, making David's rise, especially after his anointing by Samuel in [1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing"), a direct challenge to Saul's family line. Saul's actions reflect the ruthless political realities of the ancient Near East, where rivals to the throne were often eliminated, sometimes violently, to secure power.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes within the book of 1 Samuel. It highlights **Saul's Consuming Jealousy and Insecurity**, which has festered since David's victory over Goliath and the people's adoration of him in [1 Samuel 18:7-9](/1_samuel/18-7 "1 Samuel 18:7-9 - Women's Song and Saul's Jealousy"). Saul's fear that David's mere existence prevents his kingdom's establishment underscores the **Conflict Between Human Ambition and Divine Will**, as Saul desperately attempts to thwart God's already declared plan for David to be king. The explicit command for David's death also emphasizes Saul's **Moral Decline and Murderous Intent**, a stark contrast to his earlier, more righteous character. Finally, Jonathan's unwavering **Loyalty and Covenant Faithfulness** to David, even in the face of his father's rage and the jeopardizing of his own royal prospects, is profoundly underscored by this declaration, setting the stage for their final farewell in [1 Samuel 20:41-42](/1_samuel/20-41 "1 Samuel 20:41-42 - David and Jonathan's Farewell").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Son of Jesse (Hebrew, _ben Yishai'_):** Saul's use of this patronymic, rather than David's name or title (like "David the warrior" or "David the king's son-in-law"), is deeply contemptuous. It serves to diminish David, emphasizing his humble, non-royal origins from Bethlehem, and implicitly denies any legitimacy to his growing influence or divine favor. For Saul, David is merely a peasant, not a rival worthy of the throne, yet paradoxically, he perceives him as the ultimate threat.
* **Established (Hebrew, כּוּן, _kun'_):** This verb signifies stability, permanence, firmness, or being made secure. Saul's fear is not just that David might one day take the throne, but that David's very existence prevents his own (Saul's) royal line, through Jonathan, from ever being securely and permanently fixed on the throne. It speaks to a deep anxiety about dynastic continuity and the foundational security of his kingdom.
* **Die (Hebrew, מוּת, _mut'_):** The repetition of this verb, often translated as "he shall surely die" (a common Hebrew idiom for a certain death), leaves no ambiguity about Saul's intent. It is a direct, unequivocal command for murder, revealing the depth of his hatred and the extreme measures he is willing to take to eliminate David. This is not a casual threat but a royal decree for execution.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground":** This clause reveals the absolute nature of Saul's perceived threat. David's mere existence, his living "upon the ground" (a common idiom for being alive), is the sole impediment to Saul's dynastic security. It highlights Saul's irrational paranoia, where David's presence, regardless of his actions, is seen as an existential danger.
* **"thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom":** Here, Saul directly addresses Jonathan, articulating his belief that David's life directly undermines Jonathan's future as king and the stability of Saul's own kingdom. This demonstrates Saul's understanding (or fear) of David's destiny, even if he refuses to acknowledge God's hand in it. It also reveals the pressure Saul places on Jonathan to align with his murderous agenda.
* **"Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me":** This is a direct, imperative command, showcasing Saul's authority and his immediate, active intent to carry out his plan. It is a royal summons, deceptively framed, for David to be brought into Saul's presence, presumably for execution.
* **"for he shall surely die":** This final, chilling declaration confirms the murderous purpose behind the summons. It is a definitive statement of intent, leaving no doubt about Saul's desire to eliminate David permanently. This phrase emphasizes the gravity of Saul's moral corruption and his descent into tyranny.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Hyperbole** is evident in Saul's declaration that David's mere existence prevents the establishment of his kingdom; this exaggeration underscores the depth of Saul's paranoia and his distorted perception of reality. The verse also functions as **Foreshadowing**, as Saul's desperate attempts to prevent David's rise only serve to highlight the certainty of David's eventual kingship and the ultimate failure of Saul's own reign. There is profound **Irony** in Saul's actions: by trying to secure his throne through violence and defiance of God's will, he actively precipitates the downfall of his own dynasty, which God had already pronounced in [1 Samuel 15](/1_samuel/15 "1 Samuel 15 - Saul's Rejection as King"). Finally, the stark **Contrast** between Saul's dark, murderous intent and Jonathan's unwavering loyalty and righteousness, which immediately precedes and follows this verse, amplifies the moral chasm between father and son.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 20:31 serves as a stark illustration of the futility of human efforts to thwart divine sovereignty and the destructive power of unbridled jealousy. Saul's desperate attempt to secure his kingdom by eliminating David stands in direct opposition to God's established plan for David to be the next king of Israel. This conflict highlights a recurring biblical theme: God's purposes will prevail, regardless of human resistance or ambition. Saul's actions are a tragic consequence of his persistent disobedience and lack of faith, demonstrating how a heart consumed by insecurity and envy can lead to moral decay and violent intent, ultimately resulting in self-destruction. The verse also underscores the profound cost of loyalty, as Jonathan's faithfulness to David directly challenges his father's authority and jeopardizes his own claim to the throne, yet he remains steadfast in his covenant.

* [1 Samuel 15:28-29](/1_samuel/15-28 "1 Samuel 15:28-29 - Samuel's Prophecy to Saul")
* [Psalm 2:1-4](/psalms/2-1 "Psalm 2:1-4 - The Rage of the Nations")
* [Proverbs 27:4](/proverbs/27-4 "Proverbs 27:4 - Envy's Cruelty")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Saul's outburst in 1 Samuel 20:31 offers a profound cautionary tale for all who seek to control their destiny outside of God's will. It exposes the destructive nature of fear, insecurity, and jealousy when allowed to fester in the heart. Saul's attempts to eliminate David were not only morally reprehensible but ultimately futile, serving only to hasten his own demise and the loss of his kingdom. This reminds us that true security and establishment come from aligning our lives with God's purposes, not from manipulating circumstances or eliminating perceived threats. We are called to trust in God's sovereignty, even when His plans diverge from our own ambitions or expectations. Furthermore, Jonathan's steadfast loyalty to David, even when it meant personal loss and confrontation with his father, stands as a powerful example of integrity, faithfulness, and the enduring power of covenant love. In a world often driven by self-preservation and ambition, Jonathan's self-sacrificial friendship challenges us to consider the depth of our own commitments and the purity of our motives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be attempting to "establish" myself or my "kingdom" through human effort or control, rather than trusting in God's sovereign plan?**
* **How do I respond when I perceive someone else's success or anointing as a threat to my own security or position?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a heart of trust and contentment, rather than allowing jealousy or insecurity to take root?**
* **Where in my relationships am I called to demonstrate Jonathan-like loyalty and faithfulness, even when it comes at a personal cost?**

### FAQ
**Why was Saul so obsessed with killing David, even though David had served him loyally?**

Answer: Saul's obsession stemmed primarily from profound insecurity and jealousy, exacerbated by his disobedience to God and the departure of God's Spirit from him ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul")). After David's victory over Goliath, the women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" ([1 Samuel 18:7](/1_samuel/18-7 "1 Samuel 18:7 - The Women's Song")). This public adoration ignited Saul's envy. He perceived David not merely as a successful servant but as a direct rival to his throne and dynastic ambitions, especially after learning of David's anointing by Samuel ([1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing")). Saul believed that as long as David lived, his own kingdom and his son Jonathan's succession could not be "established," leading him to irrational and murderous intent.

**What does "thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom" mean in this context?**

Answer: This phrase reveals Saul's deep fear for the future of his dynasty. "Established" (Hebrew, _kun_) implies permanence, stability, and security. Saul believed that David's continued existence prevented his own lineage, through Jonathan, from being firmly and securely fixed on the throne of Israel. He saw David as the ultimate obstacle to his family's dynastic continuity. This statement also implicitly acknowledges the divine favor on David, as Saul recognizes David as a legitimate threat to the very foundation of his royal house, even if he refuses to acknowledge God's hand in it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate and ultimately futile efforts of King Saul to eliminate David in 1 Samuel 20:31 serve as a powerful Old Testament type, foreshadowing the world's rejection and attempted destruction of God's true Anointed One, Jesus Christ. Just as Saul, the earthly king, sought to secure his unstable kingdom by murdering the "son of Jesse" whom God had chosen, so too did the powers of this world—represented by figures like Herod ([Matthew 2:16](/matthew/2-16 "Matthew 2:16 - Herod's Slaughter of the Innocents")) and the religious authorities—conspire to kill Jesus, the ultimate "son of Jesse" and "root of Jesse" ([Isaiah 11:1](/isaiah/11-1 "Isaiah 11:1 - A Shoot from Jesse") and [Isaiah 11:10](/isaiah/11-10 "Isaiah 11:10 - The Root of Jesse")). Saul's declaration that his kingdom could not be "established" while David lived finds its ultimate counterpoint in Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")) and is truly eternal and unshakable ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")). David, though a king, was still a man; Jesus, the "Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" ([Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah")), perfectly fulfills God's promise of an everlasting kingdom that no human scheme or murderous intent could ever destabilize or overthrow. In Christ, God's chosen King is not only established but reigns forever.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 19:6

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

1 Samuel 20:8

Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

2 Samuel 19:28

For all [of] my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

Psalms 79:11

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

1 Samuel 19:11

¶ Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

1 Samuel 19:15

And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

1 Samuel 26:16

This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.