1st Samuel Chapter 20 verse 2 Holy Bible
And he said unto him, Far from it; thou shalt not die: behold, my father doeth nothing either great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
read chapter 20 in ASV
And he said to him, Far be the thought: you will not be put to death: see, my father does nothing, great or small, without giving me word of it: would he keep this secret from me? It is not so.
read chapter 20 in BBE
And he said to him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, and not apprise me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
read chapter 20 in DARBY
And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
read chapter 20 in KJV
And he said to him, Far be it from thee; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing, either great or small, but that he will show it to me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
read chapter 20 in WBT
He said to him, "Far from it; you shall not die: behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so."
read chapter 20 in WEB
And he saith to him, `Far be it! thou dost not die; lo, my father doth not do anything great or small and doth not uncover mine ear; and wherefore doth my father hide from me this thing? this `thing' is not.'
read chapter 20 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 2. - God forbid. An exclamation of horror; literally, "Far be it" (see on 1 Samuel 14:45). In spite of the many proofs of Saul's bitter hatred, Jonathan cannot believe that after all that had taken place at Ramah his father would still persist in his murderous purpose. He further assures David that Saul would do nothing without telling him; literally, without uncovering his ear, without telling it him privately (see on 1 Samuel 9:15). The phrase is used again in ver. 12. For will do nothing the written text reads "has done for himself," which the Kri properly corrects. The rashness of Saul's temper, and his frank talk about killing David recorded in 1 Samuel 19:1, confirm Jonathan's statement about the openness of his father's ways, and he therefore assures David that he may take his place in safety.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) God forbid; thou shalt not die.--Jonathan even now refuses to believe that his loved father, when he was himself, really wished ill to David; all that had hitherto happened the princely Jonathan put down to his father's unhappy malady. He urges upon his friend that if the king in good earnest had designs upon David's life, he would in his calm, lucid days have consulted with him, Jonathan, to whom he ever confided all his State secrets.Will do nothing.--Here the commentators and the versions--LXX., Vulg., and Cbaldee--all agree to read in the Hebrew text, lo "not," for lo "to him," that is, for a vau an aleph must be substituted.
