1-Samuel - 20:21



21 Behold, I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows!' If I tell the boy, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;' then come; for there is peace to you and no hurt, as Yahweh lives.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Samuel 20:21.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
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.
And I will send a boy, saying to him: Go and fetch me the arrows.
and lo, I send the youth: Go, find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth, Lo, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them,, then come thou, for peace is for thee, and there is nothing; Jehovah liveth.
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them; then come you: for there is peace to you, and no hurt; as the LORD lives.
And I will send my boy to have a look for the arrow. And if I say to him, See, the arrow is on this side of you; take it up! then you may come; for there is peace for you and no evil, by the living Lord.
Look, I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I tell the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;' then come; for there is peace to you and no hurt, as the LORD lives.
Also, I will send a boy, saying to him, 'Go and bring the arrows to me.'

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And, behold, I will send a lad,.... 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 do him no injury; and that he might promise himself prosperity and safety, and be assured of it for the present.

"And, behold (הנּה, directing attention to what follows as the main point), I will send the boy (saying), Go, get the arrows. If I shall say to the boy, Behold, the arrows are from thee hitherwards, fetch them; then come, for peace is to thee, and it is nothing, as truly as Jehovah liveth."

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.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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