1 Samuel 19:7
in 1 Samuel 19So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as beforetime.
KJV
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 19
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he bound himself by an oath to relinquish his hostile purpose; and thus, through the intervention of the noble-minded prince, a temporary reconciliation was effected, in consequence of which David was again employed in the public service.
This site's exposition
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath
on 1 Samuel 19:6-7
Saul swears, "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death," and David returns to serve him "as he had before" at court. The oath is sworn on God’s life, and the narrator does not soften what happens to it within this chapter. Wesley, following Henry, reads the moment as God turning Saul’s heart through Jonathan for this hour, a mercy as short as Saul’s memory.
This site's exposition
to serve him as he had before
Jonathan acts as go-between for both men, carrying Saul's oath to David and bringing David back into Saul's presence. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown call the result a temporary reconciliation. It lasts only until the next Philistine war.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
And Jonathan brought David to Saul, etc. Jonathan speaks well of David to Saul, and is heard, as the apostles preaching about Christ catechize the Jews, gaining their faith. He introduces the same one when, baptizing them, they refresh them with the flesh and blood …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And Jonathan called David,....
Though Saul had requited him evil for good, and even his usefulness was the very thing for which Saul envied him, yet he did not therefore retire in sullenness and decline public service. Those that are ill paid for doing good, yet must not be weary of well doing, remembering what a bountiful benefactor our heavenly Father is, even to the froward and unthankful.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He was in his presence, as in times past - By Jonathan’s advice he had secreted himself on that day on which he was to have been assassinated: the king having sworn that he should not be slain, David resumes his place in the palace of Saul.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּקְרָ֤א | vaiyikra' | and he called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| יְהוֹנָתָן֙ | yehonatan | Jonathan | H3083 → | 81 times |
| לְדָוִ֔ד | ledavid | to David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| וַיַּגֶּד־ | vaiyaged- | and he told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לוֹ֙ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן | yehonatan | Jonathan | H3083 → | 81 times |
| אֵ֥ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַדְּבָרִ֖ים | hadevarim | the words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הָאֵ֑לֶּה | haeleh | <the> these | H428 → | 746 times |
| וַיָּבֵ֨א | vaiyave' | and he brought | H935 → | 2568 times |
| יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן | yehonatan | Jonathan | H3083 → | 81 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| דָּוִד֙ | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| שָׁא֔וּל | shaul | Saul | H7586 → | 402 times |
| וַיְהִ֥י | vayhi | and he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לְפָנָ֖יו | lefanav | <to> before him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| כְּאֶתְמ֥וֹל | keetmol | as yesterday | H865 → | 8 times |
| שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ ס | shilshom | three days ago | H8032 → | 24 times |
וַיִּקְרָ֤אand he called
vaiyikra'H7121 →733 times
יְהוֹנָתָן֙Jonathan
yehonatanH3083 →81 times
לְדָוִ֔דto David
ledavidH1732 →999 times
וַיַּגֶּד־and he told
vaiyaged-H5046 →370 times
לוֹ֙to <the> him
lo
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןJonathan
yehonatanH3083 →81 times
אֵ֥ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַדְּבָרִ֖יםthe words
hadevarimH1697 →1440 times
הָאֵ֑לֶּה<the> these
haelehH428 →746 times
וַיָּבֵ֨אand he brought
vaiyave'H935 →2568 times
יְהוֹנָתָ֤ןJonathan
yehonatanH3083 →81 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
דָּוִד֙David
davidH1732 →999 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
שָׁא֔וּלSaul
shaulH7586 →402 times
וַיְהִ֥יand he was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
לְפָנָ֖יו<to> before him
lefanavH6440 →2123 times
כְּאֶתְמ֥וֹלas yesterday
keetmolH865 →8 times
שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ סthree days ago
shilshomH8032 →24 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 30:33For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a…
it leads to
- 2 Kings 23:10
He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.
- Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.
- Jeremiah 19:6
So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
- 1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- 2 Kings 23:10
Through
1 Samuel 16:21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.
it leads to
- Genesis 41:46
Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
- Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Genesis 41:46
Through
1 Samuel 18:10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11
Through
1 Samuel 18:13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel,…
- 2 Samuel 5:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Samuel

Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonUnited MonarchyDavidSecond king of united Israel, shepherd-turned-monarch, ancestor of the Messiah, and traditional author of many Psalms.
- PersonUnited monarchySaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devoted, consul…
- PersonEarly monarchyJonathanSon of King Saul who climbed a cliff to rout a garrison on the conviction that nothing restrains Jehovah; cut a covenant of steadf…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
