1 Samuel 20:10
New International Version
David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

New Living Translation
Then David asked, “How will I know whether or not your father is angry?”

English Standard Version
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”

Berean Standard Bible
Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

King James Bible
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

New King James Version
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?”

New American Standard Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me if your father answers you harshly?”

NASB 1995
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

NASB 1977
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

Amplified Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

Christian Standard Bible
So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

American Standard Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And David said to Jonathan: “Who will show me whether your father will answer you harshly?”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to Jonathan, Who can tell me if thy father should answer roughly?

Contemporary English Version
"How will you do that?" David asked.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy father should answer thee harshly concerning me?

English Revised Version
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then David asked, "Who will tell me whether or not your father gives you a harsh answer?"

Good News Translation
David then asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you angrily?"

International Standard Version
Then David told Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said David to Jonathan: 'Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?'

Literal Standard Version
And David says to Jonathan, “Who declares [it] to me? Or what [if] your father answers you sharply?”

Majority Standard Bible
Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

New American Bible
David then asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?”

NET Bible
David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

New Revised Standard Version
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

New Heart English Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father shall answer thee roughly?

World English Bible
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto Jonathan, 'Who doth declare to me? or what if thy father doth answer thee sharply?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan and David Renew Their Covenant
10Then David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11“Come,” he replied, “let us go out to the field.” So the two of them went out into the field,…

Cross References
1 Samuel 20:9
"Never!" Jonathan replied. "If I ever found out that my father had evil intentions against you, would I not tell you?"

1 Samuel 20:11
"Come," he replied, "let us go out to the field." So the two of them went out into the field,


Treasury of Scripture

Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if your father answer you roughly?

answer thee

1 Samuel 20:30-34
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? …

1 Samuel 25:10,14,17
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master…

Genesis 42:7,30
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food…

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Answers David Declare Harshly Jonathan Perchance Rough Roughly Sharply Word
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Answers David Declare Harshly Jonathan Perchance Rough Roughly Sharply Word
1 Samuel 20
1. David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11. Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18. Jonathan's token to David
23. Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35. Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David














(10) Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?--The language in the original is here very abrupt and involved. Evidently the very words uttered in the memorable scene by the excited and sorrowful friends are remembered and reported.

The "if" supplied in the English Version probably is nearest the meaning intended to be conveyed by the broken, agitated words. Another rendering is, "If thy father shall answer thee harshly, who will declare it to me?"

"These questions of David were suggested by a correct estimate of the circumstances--namely, that Saul's suspicions would lead him to the conclusion that there was some understanding between Jonathan and David, and that he would take steps, in consequence, to prevent Jonathan from making David acquainted with the result of his conversation with Saul."--Keil.

In the next verse Jonathan leads David into a solitary spot--"the field"--where, before saying their last words together, they might agree upon some secret sign by means of which Saul's real mind towards David might be communicated, if necessary, by Jonathan to his friend.

Verse 10. - Who shall tell me? or what if, etc. The if is an insertion of the A.V. Really David's question is very involved and ungrammatical, as was natural in his excited state. It may be translated, "Who will tell me (or, how shall I know) what rough answer thy father will give thee?" But some Jewish authorities render, "Who will tell me if so be that thy father give thee a rough answer?"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then David
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

asked
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Jonathan,
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

“Who
מִ֖י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will tell
יַגִּ֣יד (yag·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

me if
א֛וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

your father
אָבִ֖יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

answers
יַּעַנְךָ֥ (ya·‘an·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

you harshly?”
קָשָֽׁה׃ (qā·šāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7186: Hard, severe


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OT History: 1 Samuel 20:10 Then said David to Jonathan Who shall (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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