1 samuel 20:37 - When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
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What does "1 samuel 20:37" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 20:37 is a crucial part of a pre-arranged signal between Jonathan and David. They were using archery as a coded way for Jonathan to communicate to David whether it was safe for him to return to King Saul (Jonathan's father). Let's break down the meaning:
Context: David was hiding because King Saul was trying to kill him. Jonathan, David's close friend, agreed to test Saul's intentions. He pretended to practice archery and sent a young boy to retrieve the arrows.
"When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot..." Jonathan deliberately shot an arrow further than the boy could easily reach. This was intentional, setting up the coded message.
"...Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, 'Isn’t the arrow beyond you?'" This is the coded message. The phrase "beyond you" (Hebrew: he lo ha-haimah mimkeh) was understood to mean that David was in danger and needed to flee further away from Saul. It indicated that Saul's anger toward David remained strong and it was not safe for David to return. The arrow being "beyond" the boy meant danger was "beyond" David.
In essence, the verse signifies:
Confirmation of Danger: Jonathan's words were a pre-arranged code to warn David that Saul still intended to harm him.
Continual need to flee: David needed to stay in hiding and avoid Saul at all costs.
Painful communication: The seemingly simple act of retrieving an arrow disguised a deep sense of sadness, loyalty, and danger between the two friends. It underscores the difficult and dangerous circumstances they faced.
Symbolic Interpretation
Some scholars also point out a possible symbolic meaning:
Distance: The arrow going beyond the boy symbolizes the increasing distance and separation between David and Jonathan due to Saul's animosity.
Inability: The boy's inability to reach the arrow might also be interpreted as the lack of power the powerless has to face those in power, in this case, David facing King Saul.
Ultimately, the verse is a poignant reminder of the lengths to which true friends will go to protect one another, even in the face of mortal danger.
1 samuel 20:37 - When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
What does "1 samuel 20:37" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 20:37 is a crucial part of a pre-arranged signal between Jonathan and David. They were using archery as a coded way for Jonathan to communicate to David whether it was safe for him to return to King Saul (Jonathan's father). Let's break down the meaning:
Context: David was hiding because King Saul was trying to kill him. Jonathan, David's close friend, agreed to test Saul's intentions. He pretended to practice archery and sent a young boy to retrieve the arrows.
"When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot..." Jonathan deliberately shot an arrow further than the boy could easily reach. This was intentional, setting up the coded message.
"...Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, 'Isn’t the arrow beyond you?'" This is the coded message. The phrase "beyond you" (Hebrew: he lo ha-haimah mimkeh) was understood to mean that David was in danger and needed to flee further away from Saul. It indicated that Saul's anger toward David remained strong and it was not safe for David to return. The arrow being "beyond" the boy meant danger was "beyond" David.
In essence, the verse signifies:
Confirmation of Danger: Jonathan's words were a pre-arranged code to warn David that Saul still intended to harm him.
Continual need to flee: David needed to stay in hiding and avoid Saul at all costs.
Painful communication: The seemingly simple act of retrieving an arrow disguised a deep sense of sadness, loyalty, and danger between the two friends. It underscores the difficult and dangerous circumstances they faced.
Symbolic Interpretation
Some scholars also point out a possible symbolic meaning:
Distance: The arrow going beyond the boy symbolizes the increasing distance and separation between David and Jonathan due to Saul's animosity.
Inability: The boy's inability to reach the arrow might also be interpreted as the lack of power the powerless has to face those in power, in this case, David facing King Saul.
Ultimately, the verse is a poignant reminder of the lengths to which true friends will go to protect one another, even in the face of mortal danger.