What does 1 Samuel 20:7 mean?
"If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him." - 1 Samuel 20:7

The biblical verse 1 Samuel 20:7 from the King James Version (KJV) reads, "If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him." This verse is part of a conversation between Jonathan and David, as they discuss whether or not it is safe for David to stay at King Saul's court.
The context of this verse is crucial for understanding its significance. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was David's close friend. However, King Saul had become increasingly jealous and paranoid of David, whom he saw as a threat to his own reign. In this conversation, Jonathan is attempting to discern Saul's true intentions towards David. Jonathan agrees to determine Saul's attitude and relay the information to David, in order to help him avoid danger.
This verse is significant in several ways. Firstly, it reveals the fraught and dangerous political environment in which David and Jonathan lived. The royal court was a place of power struggles, intrigue, and potential violence. Jonathan's willingness to risk his own safety in order to help David shows the depth of their friendship and loyalty to each other. Furthermore, the verse highlights the complex dynamics of loyalty and betrayal within the narrative of Saul, Jonathan, and David.
The verse also carries themes of discernment and trust. Jonathan is relying on his ability to accurately gauge his father's emotions and intentions in order to protect David. His understanding that "evil" may be determined by Saul if he is very angry speaks to the nuanced and dangerous situation they are in. Additionally, the verse encapsulates the broader theme of navigating ethical dilemmas within the confines of loyalty and fidelity.
Symbolically, this verse can be seen as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the potential for betrayal in interpersonal relationships. Saul's jealousy and paranoia have led him to turn against David, who was once his loyal servant and a celebrated hero. Jonathan's loyalty to David, his friend, and his loyalty to his father, King Saul, create a moral conflict that is emblematic of the struggles that many face when torn between conflicting loyalties.
In a broader spiritual sense, this verse can also be interpreted as a lesson in discernment and the importance of seeking and acting on the guidance of God. Jonathan's actions demonstrate a deep faith in God's ability to guide and protect David, even in the midst of dangerous circumstances. Additionally, the verse can serve as a reminder of the power of human agency and the potential for individuals to act as instruments of God's will, even in the face of great personal risk.
In conclusion, 1 Samuel 20:7 from the King James Version is a verse that holds significant thematic and moral weight within the broader narrative of the biblical story of David and Saul. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for betrayal and the complexities of loyalty, while also highlighting the importance of discernment, trust, and faith in God's guidance. This verse can be seen as a timeless message about the ethical and spiritual challenges that individuals face when navigating the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of righteousness.
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1 Samuel 20:7 - "If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him."
"If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him." - 1 Samuel 20:7
1 Samuel 20:27-29
1 Samuel 20:20 - "And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
1 Samuel 28:15-20
1 Samuel 20:27-30
1 Samuel 10:20 - "And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken."
1 Samuel 3:20 - "And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."
1 Samuel 7:15 - "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life."
2 Samuel 7:20 - "And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant."
2 Samuel 7:1–29
1 Samuel 14:7
1 Samuel 28:7
1 Samuel 8:7
1 Samuel 7:5 - "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD."
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2 Samuel 20:7 - "And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri."
1 Samuel 18:20 - "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."
1 Samuel 20:39 - "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter."
1 Samuel 7:9 - "¶ And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him."
1 Samuel 3:7 - "Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him."
1 Samuel 1:20 - "Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD."
1 Samuel 20:28 - "And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:"
1 Samuel 19:20 - "And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied."
1 Samuel 28:20 - "Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night."
1 Samuel 7:13 - "¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel."
1 Samuel 22:20 - "¶ And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David."
1 Samuel 12:20 - "¶ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;"
1 Samuel 20:4 - "Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee."
1 Samuel 20:33 - "And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David."