1 Samuel 20 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 20:13
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
1 Samuel 20
Covenant love tested by danger
Editorial Christian reading within the wider Davidic history [NT1]; Mishnah Avot’s reading of David and Jonathan is attributed separately [RA]. Love does not remove the danger or the sources’ difficult oath clauses.
20:1–11 | The danger disputed and the test proposed
Verse MT 20:1 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:1
David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my soul?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:1
David escaped from Nauath in Ramah. He came before Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What is my wrong, and how have I sinned before your father, that he seeks my soul?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The three questions agree in force. The Naioth/Nauath forms continue chapter 19. The final review checked the publisher Greek text for both chapters 20–21, replacing the provisional host declaration.
Verse MT 20:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:2
He said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Look, my father does nothing great or small without uncovering my ear. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It is not so.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:2
Jonathan said to him, “By no means shall that happen to you! You certainly shall not die. Look, my father will certainly do nothing great or small without uncovering my ear. Why would my father hide this matter? It is not so.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek names Jonathan and emphasizes the negatives; Hebrew explicitly has from me at the end. Hebrew follows the read negative and verb rather than the difficult written lo-ʿasah forms [Q20]. Uncovering the ear retains the disclosure image.
Verse MT 20:3 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:3
David swore again and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes. He says, ‘Let Jonathan not know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as YHWH lives and as your soul lives, there is only a step between me and death.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:3
David answered Jonathan and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes. He says, ‘Let Jonathan not know this, lest he refuse.’ But as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, as I said, the space between me and death has been filled.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives renewed swearing and fear of Jonathan’s grief; Greek an answer and fear of his unwillingness. Greek’s difficult filled-space expression is retained provisionally, rather than replaced with Hebrew’s single step. The named space supplies what is understood between the two endpoints.
Verse MT 20:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:4
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul says, I will do for you.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:4
Jonathan said to David, “What does your soul desire, and what shall I do for you?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew gives an undertaking; Greek two questions seeking David’s wish.
Verse MT 20:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:5
David said to Jonathan, “Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should certainly sit with the king to eat. Let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:5
David said to Jonathan, “Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I will certainly not sit with the king to eat. Let me go, so that I may hide in the plain until evening.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek explicitly negates sitting and lacks third in the evening clause. Hebrew describes the expected attendance; Greek David’s intended absence. The difference is preserved without making the two perspectives contradictory.
Verse MT 20:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:6
If your father misses me, say, ‘David earnestly asked my leave to run to Bethlehem, his city, because the yearly sacrifice for the whole family is there.’
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:6
If your father inquires after me, say, ‘David earnestly asked my leave to run to Bethlehem, his city, because the yearly sacrifice for the whole tribe is there.’
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names the family or clan; Greek the tribe. Both use sacrifice-of-the-days language for the recurring sacrifice, rendered yearly in context.
Verse MT 20:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:7
If he says, ‘Good,’ there is peace for your servant. But if his anger burns, know that evil has been determined by him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:7
If he says, ‘Good,’ there is peace for your servant. But if he answers you harshly, know that evil has been determined by him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew specifies burning anger; Greek a harsh answer. The test’s consequence agrees.
Verse MT 20:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:8
Show steadfast kindness to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of YHWH with you. If there is guilt in me, put me to death yourself. Why should you bring me to your father?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:8
Show mercy to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with yourself. If there is wrong in your servant, put me to death yourself. Why do you bring me to your father in this way?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew hesed and Greek eleos retain the project’s contextual steadfast-kindness/mercy distinction. Greek repeats your servant where Hebrew says me. Both appeal to the covenant.
Verse MT 20:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:9
Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that evil had been determined by my father to come upon you, would I not tell you?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:9
Jonathan said, “By no means shall that happen to you! If I know that evil has been determined by my father to come upon you—and if not—I will report it to you in your cities.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek’s elliptical and if not is set apart, following the publisher’s punctuation before to your cities. The cities wording qualifies the reporting clause; the compressed conditional syntax remains provisional. Hebrew has a rhetorical assurance of disclosure without cities. Neither column supplies a named messenger.
Verse MT 20:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:10
David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me? Or what if your father answers you harshly?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:10
David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers harshly?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew’s short or-what phrase is construed as a second question; Greek gives one conditional question.
Verse MT 20:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:11
Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out to the field.” Both of them went out to the field.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:11
Jonathan said to David, “Go and remain in the field.” Both of them went out to the field.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew invites joint departure; Greek initially instructs David to go and remain. Both then narrate their joint departure.
20:12–23 | Promises, the household, and the sign of the arrows
Verse MT 20:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:12
Jonathan said to David, “YHWH, the God of Israel! When I sound out my father about this time tomorrow, the third day, and there is good toward David, shall I not then send to you and uncover your ear?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:12
Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, knows that I will question my father when the time comes a third time. If there is good concerning David, shall I not send to you in the field?
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew invokes God without an expressed witness-verb; Greek explicitly says knows. Both time phrases are compressed and remain provisional. Greek gives the field rather than Hebrew’s uncovering-the-ear clause. The negative sending clauses are punctuated as rhetorical questions within the oath.
Verse MT 20:13 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:13
May YHWH do so to Jonathan, and more besides, if my father favors evil against you and I do not uncover your ear and send you away, so that you may go in peace. May YHWH be with you as He has been with my father.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:13
May God do so to Jonathan, and more besides, for I will bring the evils upon you, uncover your ear, and send you away, and you shall go in peace. The Lord will be with you as He was with my father.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew’s oath is construed as Jonathan’s pledge to warn of his father’s hostile intent. Greek explicitly says I will bring the evils upon you, followed by disclosure and safe departure; the awkward agency is retained, not silently changed to reporting evil. Hebrew YHWH corresponds to God in the first Greek clause, and wish to future assertion in the final blessing. The oath syntax warrants further specialist review.
Verse MT 20:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:14
And if I am still alive, will you not show me YHWH’s steadfast kindness, so that I do not die?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:14
While I am still alive, you shall show mercy to me; and if I indeed die,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s repeated negatives and condition are construed as a plea for life-preserving kindness. Greek explicitly allows for Jonathan’s death and carries that condition into 20:15. Hebrew names YHWH’s kindness; Greek simply mercy.
Verse MT 20:15 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:15
Never cut off your steadfast kindness from my house, not even when YHWH cuts off David’s enemies, every one, from the face of the ground.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:15
you shall never remove your mercy from my house. And may it not be, when the Lord removes David’s enemies, every one, from the face of the earth,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both require enduring kindness to Jonathan’s house. The Greek conditional sentence continues into 20:16; its even-if/not syntax is difficult. Hebrew closes the speech here under this punctuation.
Verse MT 20:16 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:16
Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house: “May YHWH require it from the hand of David’s enemies.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:16
that Jonathan’s name be removed from David’s house. May the Lord seek out David’s enemies.”
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew narrates Jonathan’s covenant-making; Greek continues a plea against the removal of Jonathan’s name. Hebrew’s covenant is supplied from the established cutting-a-covenant idiom. The final invocation differs in its object and hand-expression.
Verse MT 20:17 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:17
Jonathan made David swear again because of his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:17
Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved the soul of the one who loved him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has Jonathan obtaining David’s oath; Greek Jonathan himself swearing. Greek describes reciprocal love through the soul of the one loving him, rather than Hebrew’s comparison with Jonathan’s own soul.
Verse MT 20:18 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:18
Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:18
Jonathan said, “Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be sought, because your seat will be inspected.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The absence/inspection wordplay is retained according to each verb’s emphasis.
Verse MT 20:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:19
On the third day go far down and come to the place where you hid on the day of the affair. Stay beside the stone Ezel.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:19
You shall do so a third time and look about, and come to your place where you hid on the working day. Stay beside that ergab.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Both opening instructions are compressed and provisional. Hebrew day of the affair can also be understood as a working day; Greek explicitly says working day. Hebrew names a stone and Ezel; Greek retains ergab, an uncertain transliterated landmark term, without importing the Hebrew name.
Verse MT 20:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:20
I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though shooting at a target.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:20
I will do so three times with the shafts, hurling them toward the amattari.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly shoots three arrows; Greek describes a triple hurling of shafts. Greek amattari remains a transliterated target-term rather than being silently replaced by the Hebrew noun.
Verse MT 20:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:21
Then I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you,’ take him and come, for there is peace for you and no danger, as YHWH lives.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:21
Then I will send the little boy, saying, ‘Come, find the shaft for me.’ If I say to the little boy, ‘Here, the shaft is on this side of you; take it,’ come, for there is peace for you and no danger, as the Lord lives.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural arrows and a masculine singular take-him/it suffix, rendered take him provisionally for the boy; Greek has a singular shaft and an explicit feminine take-it referring to it. The concealed instruction to David resumes with come. No danger renders the contextual no-matter idiom.
Verse MT 20:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:22
But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for YHWH has sent you away.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:22
If I say to the young man, ‘Here, the shaft is beyond you,’ go, for the Lord has sent you away.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has plural arrows; Greek a singular shaft. The departure signal and divine sending agree.
Verse MT 20:23 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:23
As for the word we have spoken, you and I, look, YHWH is between me and you forever.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:23
As for the word we have spoken, you and I, look, the Lord is a witness between me and you forever.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly supplies witness; Hebrew leaves the divine role in the between-us formula unstated.
Truth revealed at the king’s table
Editorial Christian reading: fidelity is tested by anger and threatened violence. No separate historical lectionary assignment is claimed.
20:24–34 | The empty place and Saul’s attack on Jonathan
Verse MT 20:24 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:24
David hid in the field. The new moon came, and the king sat down at the meal to eat.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:24
David hid in the field. The month arrived, and the king came to the table to eat.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew describes sitting at the meal; Greek arrival at the table. Hebrew follows the read preposition at/toward rather than the written upon [Q20]. Greek month names the same calendrical setting without adding new to its noun.
Verse MT 20:25 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:25
The king sat on his seat as usual, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan rose, and Abner sat beside Saul, but David’s place was empty.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:25
The king sat on his seat as usual, on the seat by the wall, and preceded Jonathan. Abner sat beside Saul, and David’s place was inspected.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has Jonathan rising; Greek has the king preceding Jonathan. Greek does not specify how he preceded him. The conspicuous absence is expressed through Hebrew emptiness and Greek inspection.
Verse MT 20:26 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:26
Saul said nothing that day, for he said, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:26
Saul said nothing that day, for he said, “It is an occurrence; he appears not to be clean, for he has not been purified.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both retain Saul’s conjecture about ritual uncleanness. Greek explicitly mentions the lack of purification; neither specifies the cause of the supposed impurity.
Verse MT 20:27 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:27
The next day, the second day of the new moon, David’s place was empty. Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has Jesse’s son not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:27
The next day of the month, the second day, David’s place was inspected. Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has Jesse’s son not come to the table, either yesterday or today?”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both identify the second day and two absences. The meal/table and empty/inspected distinctions continue.
Verse MT 20:28 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:28
Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked my leave to go to Bethlehem.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:28
Jonathan answered Saul and said to him, “David asked my leave to go to Bethlehem, his city.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly adds his city; Hebrew emphasizes the request through repetition.
Verse MT 20:29 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:29
He said, ‘Please let me go, for we have a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:29
He said, ‘Please send me away, for we have a sacrifice of the tribe in the city, and my brothers have commanded me. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew has a family sacrifice and one brother issuing the order; Greek a tribal sacrifice and plural brothers. This remains Jonathan’s reported explanation rather than an independent narrator’s claim.
Verse MT 20:30 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:30
Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “Son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you choose Jesse’s son, to your shame and the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:30
Saul burned with great anger against Jonathan and said to him, “Son of deserting girls! Do I not know that you are a companion of Jesse’s son, to your shame and the shame of your mother’s exposure?
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The insults differ: Hebrew’s difficult feminine expression is rendered as an insult involving a perverse, rebellious woman; Greek explicitly has plural girls who desert. Hebrew choosing differs from Greek companionship. Both insults remain attributed to Saul.
Verse MT 20:31 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:31
As long as Jesse’s son lives on the ground, neither you nor your kingship will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he is a son of death.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:31
As long as Jesse’s son lives on the earth, your kingship will not be established. Now send and fetch the young man, for this one is a son of death.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly threatens both Jonathan’s position and his kingship and directs that David be brought to Saul. Greek mentions the kingship alone and calls David the young man. Son of death retains the shared condemnation idiom.
Verse MT 20:32 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:32
Jonathan answered his father Saul and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:32
Jonathan answered Saul, “Why should he die? What has he done?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The demand for a reason agrees; Hebrew explicitly names the father relationship and execution rather than dying.
Verse MT 20:33 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:33
Saul hurled the spear at him to strike him. Jonathan knew that his father had determined to put David to death.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:33
Saul raised the spear against Jonathan to put him to death. Jonathan knew that this evil had been determined by his father: to put David to death.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes hurling to strike; Greek raising the spear with an explicit lethal purpose. Greek names Jonathan as the target and calls the settled plan evil.
Verse MT 20:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:34
Jonathan rose from the table in burning anger and ate no food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David, because his father had shamed him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:34
Jonathan sprang up from the table in furious anger and ate no bread on the second day of the month, for he was crushed over David, because his father had determined against him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew gives shaming; Greek a determined action against him with its object left implicit. Both final him-pronouns remain unexpanded; the immediate context permits discussion of David’s treatment and Jonathan’s humiliation.
20:35–42 | The signal and the farewell oath
In this source numbering, the final departure sentence follows at 21:1.
Verse MT 20:35 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:35
In the morning Jonathan went out to the field at the appointed time with David, and a little boy was with him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:35
In the morning Jonathan went out to the field, as he had arranged, for the testimony of David, and a little boy was with him.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names an appointment; Greek a testimony expression, retained as elsewhere in this book. Its relation to the arranged signal is contextual, not an added Greek word for meeting.
Verse MT 20:36 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:36
He said to his boy, “Run, please find the arrows I am shooting.” The boy ran, and he shot the arrow beyond him.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:36
He said to the little boy, “Run, find for me the shafts I am hurling.” The little boy ran, and he hurled the shaft and sent it past.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The arrows/shooting and shafts/hurling distinction continues. Hebrew explicitly says beyond him; Greek leaves the endpoint of passing unstated.
Verse MT 20:37 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:37
The boy came to the place of the arrow Jonathan had shot. Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is the arrow not beyond you?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:37
The little boy came to the place of the shaft Jonathan had hurled. Jonathan shouted after the young man and said, “There, the shaft is beyond you.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew gives the signal as a question; Greek a statement. The different projectile terms remain.
Verse MT 20:38 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:38
Jonathan called after the boy, “Quickly! Hurry! Do not stand still!” Jonathan’s boy gathered the arrows and came to his master.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:38
Jonathan shouted after his little boy, saying, “Quickly! Hurry! Do not stand still!” Jonathan’s little boy gathered the shafts for his master.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew follows the read plural arrows rather than the written singular form [Q20] and explicitly narrates coming to the master. Greek has a compressed toward/for-his-master expression without a separate coming verb.
Verse MT 20:39 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:39
The boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:39
The little boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The secrecy of the agreed signal is identical in force.
Verse MT 20:40 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:40
Jonathan gave his equipment to his boy and said to him, “Go, take it to the city.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:40
Jonathan gave his equipment to his little boy and said to his little boy, “Go, enter the city.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew explicitly commands carrying the equipment; Greek entering the city and repeats the boy designation.
Verse MT 20:41 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:41
The boy went, and David rose from beside the south. He fell face down to the ground and bowed three times. They kissed one another and wept with one another, until David exceeded.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:41
When the little boy had entered, David rose from the ergab, fell on his face, and bowed to him three times. Each kissed the other and wept with the other, until a great completion.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s south and Greek ergab preserve different descriptions of the hiding place. Hebrew’s concluding David exceeded is elliptical, commonly related to greater weeping; Greek’s great completion is also difficult. Both expressions remain provisional rather than being harmonized. Greek explicitly directs the bowing to him.
Verse MT 20:42 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 20:42
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in YHWH’s name, saying, ‘YHWH shall be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever.’”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 20:42
Jonathan said, “Go in peace, since the two of us have sworn in the Lord’s name, saying, ‘The Lord shall be a witness between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever.’”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Greek explicitly gives witness and does not repeat David’s name in the speech introduction. Both publisher source sequences place the ensuing departure sentence at 21:1; common English Bibles append it to 20:42.