1 Samuel 20:4
New International Version
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

New Living Translation
“Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed.

English Standard Version
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.”

King James Bible
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

New King James Version
So Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

NASB 1995
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

NASB 1977
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul says, I will do for you.”

Amplified Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

Christian Standard Bible
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

American Standard Version
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

Contemporary English Version
Then Jonathan said, "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

English Revised Version
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jonathan said to David, "I'll do whatever you say."

Good News Translation
Jonathan said, "I'll do anything you want."

International Standard Version
Jonathan told David, "Whatever you say, I'll do."

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.”

NET Bible
Jonathan replied to David, "Tell me what I can do for you."

New Heart English Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul desires, I will do for you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Jonathan to David, Whatever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

World English Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jonathan says to David, “What does your soul [desire]? Command and I do it for you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan saith to David, 'What doth thy soul say? -- and I do it for thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jonathan will say to David, What thy soul will say, and I will do for thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jonathan said to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul will tell me, I will do for you.”

New American Bible
Jonathan then said to David, “I will do whatever you say.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever you desire, I will do for you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Jonathan said to David: “Whatever your soul says, I shall do for you!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Jonathan unto David: 'What doth thy soul desire, that I should do it for thee?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jonathan said to David, What does thy soul desire, and what shall I do for thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan Helps David
3But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.” 4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.” 5So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I am supposed to dine with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the third evening from now.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 18:3-4
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. / And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

1 Samuel 19:2
so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.

2 Samuel 9:1
Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

2 Samuel 1:26
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. / You are My friends if you do what I command you. / No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. / Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Genesis 44:33-34
Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

2 Kings 4:13
and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Jonathan to David, Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.

Whatsoever.

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David Desire Desires Desireth I'll Jonathan Soul Want Whatever Whatsoever
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David Desire Desires Desireth I'll Jonathan Soul Want Whatever Whatsoever
1 Samuel 20
1. David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11. Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18. Jonathan's token to David
23. Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35. Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David














Then Jonathan said to David
This phrase highlights the deep bond and covenantal friendship between Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and David, the future king of Israel. In the Hebrew context, Jonathan's name means "Yahweh has given," which is fitting as he acts as a divine gift and ally to David during a time of great peril. The historical context here is crucial; Jonathan, despite being the heir to the throne, recognizes God's anointing on David and chooses loyalty to God's plan over his own potential kingship. This act of selflessness and faithfulness is a profound example of godly friendship and submission to divine will.

Whatever you desire
The Hebrew root for "desire" here is "נָפֶשׁ" (nephesh), often translated as "soul" or "life." This indicates a deep, heartfelt commitment from Jonathan to David, suggesting that Jonathan is willing to go to great lengths, even risking his own life, to fulfill David's needs. This phrase underscores the sacrificial nature of true friendship, reflecting the biblical principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18). In a broader scriptural context, it foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who laid down His life for His friends (John 15:13).

I will do for you
Jonathan's promise to act on David's behalf is a testament to his integrity and loyalty. The Hebrew verb "עָשָׂה" (asah), meaning "to do" or "to make," conveys action and commitment. Jonathan's willingness to act is not passive but involves taking decisive steps to protect and support David. This reflects the biblical call to be doers of the word, not merely hearers (James 1:22). Jonathan's actions are a model of faith in action, demonstrating that true faith is evidenced by works (James 2:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Jonathan
יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

David,
דָּוִ֑ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

“Whatever
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you
נַפְשְׁךָ֖ (nap̄·šə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

desire,
תֹּאמַ֥ר (tō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

I will do for you.”
וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (wə·’e·‘ĕ·śeh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT History: 1 Samuel 20:4 Then said Jonathan to David Whatever your (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 20:3
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