What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 20:21? Then I will send a boy • Jonathan devises a simple, literal plan to communicate with David from a distance without arousing suspicion (1 Samuel 20:19). • Using a servant keeps Saul from noticing any secret meeting, protecting David just as earlier Jonathan had warned him to hide (1 Samuel 19:2–3). and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ • The errand looks like ordinary target practice, masking the true purpose (compare 2 Samuel 11:20–21 where battle details were masked for safety). • God often works through ordinary actions to accomplish extraordinary protection (Exodus 2:3–10; John 6:9–11). Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ • The phrasing is the agreed-upon signal of safety (1 Samuel 20:11–13). • “This side” means the boy—and David hiding beyond—are nearer than the arrows; David can safely reveal himself. • Similar coded language is found when Rahab hides the spies and gives them instructions (Joshua 2:16). then come • Jonathan’s single word “come” invites David to step out of concealment and restore fellowship (1 Samuel 20:40–42). • Throughout Scripture, trusted messengers bring a call to come out of hiding—e.g., Elijah calling Elisha (1 Kings 19:19–21) or Jesus calling Lazarus (John 11:43–44). because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger. • Jonathan seals his promise with an oath invoking God’s living presence (Ruth 3:13; 1 Samuel 25:26). • True safety is grounded in the Lord’s sovereignty, not merely in human strategy (Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 29:25). • The scene underscores loyal covenant love—ḥesed—between Jonathan and David, reflecting God’s faithful protection of His anointed (1 Samuel 20:16–17; 2 Samuel 9:7). summary 1 Samuel 20:21 details Jonathan’s covert signaling plan, showing practical wisdom, steadfast friendship, and confident reliance on the living Lord. Each phrase builds a careful, God-honoring strategy that shields David, maintains secrecy, and rests on the certainty that where God declares safety, there truly is no danger. |
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