Bible Strands
1 Samuel 20:1
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David flees to Jonathan in Ramah and asks him why Saul wants to kill him.
The words — וַיִּבְרַח (va.yiv.rach) means "and he fled," and לִפְנֵי (li.f.Nei) means "before," marking David’s physical approach to Jonathan.
The thread — This appeal for deliverance aligns with the New Testament assurance that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials (2 Peter 2:9) and the principle of maintaining confidence before God when conscience is clear (1 John 3:21).
Why it lands — The passage records David’s direct questions to Jonathan about Saul’s intent, prompting the reader to observe Jonathan’s immediate denial (1 Samuel 20:2) and the tension between royal authority and personal loyalty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
Cross-references
- 2 Peter 2:9 if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
- 1 Samuel 12:3 Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”
- 1 Samuel 19:19 When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah,
- 1 Samuel 23:26 Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
- 1 Samuel 24:9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
- 1 Samuel 24:11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,