1 Samuel 19:4 net — So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him,“The king should not sin against his servant Dav…

NET Bible

"So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him,“The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you."

— 1 Samuel 19:4, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

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1 Samuel 19:4 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:”

  • ASV

    “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: ”

  • WEB

    “Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Don't let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;”

  • DRB

    “And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul, his father: and said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.”

  • BBE

    “And Jonathan gave his father Saul a good account of David, and said to him, Let not the king do wrong against his servant, against David; because he has done you no wrong, and all his acts have had a good outcome for you:”

  • KJVA

    “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:”

1 Samuel 19 — Context

1

Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take David’s Life Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.

2

So Jonathan told David,“My father Saul is trying to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find a hiding place and stay in seclusion.

3

I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak about you to my father. When I find out what the problem is, I will let you know.”

4

So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him,“The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.

5

He risked his life when he struck down the Philistine and the LORD gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”

6

Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice and took an oath,“As surely as the LORD lives, he will not be put to death.”

7

Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.

1 Samuel 19:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 19:4 say?
1 Samuel 19:4 in the NET Bible reads: “So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him,“The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.”
Where is 1 Samuel 19:4 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 19:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 19, verse 4.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 19:4.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 19:4 in?
1 Samuel 19:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 19:4?
1 Samuel 19:4 reads (NET): “So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him,“The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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