TRV
Translation
King James 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.
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.
World English Bible Messianic
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”
Geneva Bible (1599)
For as long as the sonne of Ishai liueth vpon the earth, thou shalt not be stablished, nor thy kingdome: wherefore now send and fet him vnto me, for he shall surely die.
Young's Literal Translation
for all the days that the son of Jesse liveth on the ground thou art not established, thou and thy kingdom; and now, send and bring him unto me, for he is a son of death.'
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 20 verses 24–34
24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
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?
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.
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
Jonathan is here effectually convinced of that which he was so loth to believe, that his father had an implacable enmity to David, and would certainly be the death of him if it were in his power; and he had like to have paid very dearly himself for the conviction.
I. David is missed from the feast on the first day, but nothing is said of him. The king sat upon his seat, to feast upon the peace-offerings as at other times (Sa1 20:25), and yet had his heart as full of envy and malice against David as it could hold. He should first have been reconciled to him, and then have come and offered his gift; but, instead of that, he hoped, at this feast, to drink the blood of David. What an abomination was that sacrifice which was brought with such a wicked mind as this! Pro 21:27. When the king came to take his seat Jonathan arose, in reverence to him both as a father and as his sovereign; every one knew his place, but David's was empty. It did not use to be so. None more content than he in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent now but that he must have come at the peril of his life; self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In imminent peril present opportunities may be waived, nay, we ought not to throw ourselves into the mouth of danger. Christ himself absconded often, till he knew that his hour had come. But that day Saul took no notice that he missed David, but said within himself, "Surely he is not clean, Sa1 20:26. Some ceremonial pollution has befallen him, which forbids him to eat of the holy things till he has washed his clothes, and bathed his flesh in water, and been unclean until the evening." Saul knew what conscience David made of the law, and that he would rather keep away from the holy feast than come in his uncleanness. Blessed be God, no uncleanness is now a restraint upon us, but what we may by faith and repentance be washed from in the fountain opened, Psa 26:6.
II. He is enquired for the second day, Sa1 20:27. Saul asked Jonathan, who he knew was his confidant, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat? He was his own son by marriage, but he calls him in disdain, the son of Jesse. He asks for him as if he were not pleased that he should be absent from a religious feast; and so it should be example to masters of families to see to it that those under their charge be not absent from the worship of God, either in public or in the family. It is a bad thing for us, except in case of necessity, to omit an opportunity of statedly attending on God in solemn ordinances. Thomas lost a sight of Christ by being once absent from a meeting of the disciples. But that which displeased Saul was that hereby he missed the opportunity he expected of doing David a mischief.
III. Jonathan makes his excuse, Sa1 20:28, Sa1 20:29. 1. That he was absent upon a good occasion, keeping the feast in another place, though not here, sent for by his elder brother, who was now more respectful to him than he had been (Sa1 17:28), and that he had gone to pay his respects to his relations, for the keeping up of brotherly love; and no master would deny a servant liberty to do that in due time. He pleads, 2. That he did not go without leave humbly asked and obtained from Jonathan, who, as his superior officer, was proper to be applied to for it. Thus he represents David as not wanting in any instance of respect and duty to the government.
IV. Saul hereupon breaks out into a most extravagant passion, and rages like a lion disappointed of his prey. David was out of his reach, but he falls upon Jonathan for his sake (Sa1 20:30, Sa1 20:31), gives him base language, not fit for a gentleman, a prince, to give to any man, especially his own son, heir apparent to his crown, a son that served him, the greatest stay and ornament of his family, before a great deal of company, at a feast, when all should be in good humour, at a sacred feast, by which all irregular passions should be mortified and subdued; yet he does in effect call him, 1. A bastard: Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman; that is, according to the foolish filthy language of men's brutish passion now a day, "Thou son of a whore." He tells him he was born to the confusion of his mother, that is, he had given the world cause to suspect that he was not the legitimate son of Saul, because he loved him whom Saul hated and supported him who would be the destruction of their family. 2. A traitor: Thou son of a perverse rebellion (so the word is), that is, "thou perverse rebel." At other times he reckoned no counsellor or commander that he had more trusty and well-beloved than Jonathan; yet now in this passion he represents him as dangerous to his crown and life. 3. A fool: Thou hast chosen the son of Jesse for thy friend to thy own confusion, for while he lives thou shalt never be established. Jonathan indeed did wisely and well for himself and family to secure an interest in David, whom Heaven had destined to the throne, yet, for this, he is branded as most impolitic. It is good taking God's people for our people and going with those that have him with them. It will prove to our advantage at last, however for the present it may be thought a disparagement, and a prejudice to our secular interest. It is probable Saul knew that David was anointed to the kingdom by the same hand that anointed him, and then not Jonathan, but himself, was the fool, to think to defeat the counsels of God. Yet nothing will serve him but David must die, and Jonathan must fetch him to execution. See how ill Saul's passion looks, and let it warn us against the indulgence of any thing like it in ourselves. Anger is madness, and he that hates his brother is a murderer.
V. Jonathan is sorely grieved and put into disorder by his father's barbarous passion, and the more because he had hoped better things, Sa1 20:2. He was troubled for his father, that he should be such a brute, troubled for his friend, whom he knew to be a friend of God, that he should be so basely abused; he was grieved for David (Sa1 20:34), and troubled for himself too, because his father had done him shame, and, though most unjustly, yet he must submit to it. One would pity Jonathan to see how he was put, 1. Into the peril of sin. Much ado that wise and good man had to keep his temper, upon such a provocation as this. His father's reflections upon himself made no return to; it becomes inferiors to bear with meekness and silence the contempts put upon them in wrath and passion. When thou art the anvil lie thou still. But his dooming David to die he could not bear: to that he replied with some heat (Sa1 20:32), Wherefore shall he be slain? What has he done? Generous spirits can much more easily bear to be abused themselves than to hear their friends abused. 2. Into the peril of death. Saul was now so outrageous that he threw his javelin at Jonathan, Sa1 20:33. He seemed to be in great care (Sa1 20:31) than Jonathan should be established in his kingdom, and yet now he himself aims at his life. What fools, what savage beasts and worse does anger make men! How necessary it is to put a hook in its nose and a bridle in its jaws! Jonathan was fully satisfied that evil was determined against David, which put him out of frame exceedingly: he rose from table, thinking it high time when his life was struck at, and would eat no meat, for they were not to eat of the holy things in their mourning. All the guests, we may suppose, were discomposed, and the mirth of the feast was spoiled. He that is cruel troubles his own flesh, Pro 11:17.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 24–34. Public domain.
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Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On the Duties of the Clergy 3.21.124
For that commendable friendship which maintains virtue is to be preferred most certainly to wealth or honors or power. It is not apt to be preferred to virtue indeed, but to follow after it. So it was with Jonathan, who for his affection’s sake avoided neither his father’s displeasure nor the danger to his own safety.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On the Duties of the Clergy 2.7.36
Who would not have loved him [David], when they saw how dear he was to his friends? For as he truly loved his friends, so he thought that he was loved as much in return by his own friends. No, parents put him even before their own children, and children loved him more than their parents. Therefore Saul was very angry and strove to strike Jonathan his son with a spear because he thought that David’s friendship held a higher place in his esteem than either filial piety or a father’s authority.
John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON 1 CORINTHIANS 33.2
For love “does nothing unseemly,” but as it were with certain golden wings covers up all the offenses of the beloved. Thus also Jonathan loved David and heard the scorn of his father as one … “who has nothing of a man, but lives to the shame of himself and the mother who bore you.” What then? Did he grieve at these things, and hide his face and turn away from his beloved [David]? No, quite the contrary; he displayed his fondness as an ornament. And yet the one was at that time a king, and a king’s son, even Jonathan; the other a fugitive and a wanderer, David. But not even in this circumstance was he ashamed of his friendship. “For love does not act inappropriately.” This is its remarkable quality that it not only does not suffer the injured to grieve and feel irritated but even disposes him to rejoice. Accordingly, the one of whom we are speaking, after all these things, just as though he had a crown put on him, went away and fell on David’s neck. For love does not know what sort of thing shame is. Therefore it glories in those things for which another hides his face. The shame is in “not knowing how to love” rather than “incurring danger and enduring all for the beloved” when you do love.
Richard ChallonerAD 1781
The son of death: That is, one that deserveth death, and shall surely be put to death.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
In 1 Samuel 20:31, King Saul's escalating paranoia and murderous intent are chillingly laid bare 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 deep-seated jealousy into an explicit command for David's death, exposing the king's profound insecurity and his desperate, yet ultimately futile, attempt to thwart God's sovereign plan for the future of Israel's monarchy.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
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, as David had done nothing to directly threaten Saul's reign. 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. 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, valuing righteousness and friendship above personal gain.
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, recognizing that His wisdom far surpasses our limited understanding. 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, encouraging us to prioritize righteousness and true relationship over worldly gain.
Questions for Reflection
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). 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). 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). 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 to eliminate the perceived threat to his power.
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, kûwn) 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. It reflects Saul's desperate struggle to maintain control over a kingdom that God had already determined to remove from his grasp.
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 and the religious authorities of Jesus' day John 11:47-50—conspire to kill Jesus, the ultimate "son of Jesse" and "root of Jesse" Isaiah 11:1 and Isaiah 11:10. 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 and is truly eternal and unshakable Hebrews 12:28. David, though a king, was still a man; Jesus, the "Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" Revelation 5:5, 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, having conquered death itself Romans 6:9 and secured an eternal inheritance for all who believe Ephesians 1:11.