1 Samuel 20:22 Meaning and Explanation
“But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jonathan gives the danger signal: if he says the arrows are beyond the boy, David must flee, for the LORD has sent him away.
What Does 1 Samuel 20:22 Mean?
Jonathan completes the code with its darker meaning. If he calls that the arrows lie beyond the boy, farther off, it is the warning to flee, for Saul means murder. The same arrows, by their reported direction, will speak either life or exile.
Even the command to flee is framed in faith: the LORD hath sent thee away. Jonathan sees God's hand even in David's banishment, trusting that the One who guards David also governs his going. When the path leads away from safety into the unknown, the believer may still say it is the LORD who sends.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 20:22
What does 1 Samuel 20:22 mean?
Jonathan gives the danger signal: if he says the arrows are beyond the boy, David must flee, for the LORD has sent him away.