What Does 1 Samuel 19:3 Mean in the King James?
And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Here, speech carries David’s reality into the hearing of the one who can harm him.
THE MEANING
When your safety or future rests under someone else’s authority, this verse shows care taking the form of an honest witness who speaks about you where decisions are made and reports what they see. Your reality can reach a room before you do.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that loyalty is only private affection: here, care enters the place where danger is decided and speaks plainly.
THE ROOT
אֲדַבֵּר
ʾadabbēr
GROWS FROM
דבר
d-b-r
Speak, say; the same root also names a word or matter.
“commune” in this verse is ʾadabbēr. The same root names both speaking and the word or matter spoken. Jonathan’s promise carries more than conversation: David’s situation itself enters Saul’s hearing.
ALSO GROWS
dābār: Word, matter, or thing
דָּבָר
The word for a matter grows from the same root as speaking, so David’s situation is what Jonathan brings into the conversation.
dibbēr: He spoke; to speak
דִּבֵּר
This verbal form makes the shared root audible in Jonathan’s promise to speak about David.
וְהִגַּדְתִּי
wə-higgadtī
GROWS FROM
נגד
n-g-d
Make known, declare, bring forward.
“tell” in this verse is wə-higgadtī. The verb means to make something known; a related branch carries the sense of what is in front of someone. Jonathan’s report brings what he sees before David, so the promise is to make the situation known rather than leave him guessing.
ALSO GROWS
neged: In front of, opposite, or before
נֶגֶד
This branch gives the root a sense of bringing something into view, echoing Jonathan’s promise to report what he sees.
nāgîd: Leader, ruler, or prince
נָגִיד
The related word can name one who is out in front; here, Jonathan brings his observation forward through speech.
וְרָאִיתִי
wə-rāʾîtî
GROWS FROM
ראה
r-ʾ-h
See, look at, perceive.
“see” in this verse is wə-rāʾîtî. Jonathan’s promised report begins with what he actually sees. The verse ties protection to clear observation followed by honest speech, not to reassurance without evidence.
ALSO GROWS
rōʾeh: One who sees; a seer
רֹאֶה
The same root can name the person who perceives, linking Jonathan’s watching to his later report.
marʾeh: Appearance or vision
מַרְאֶה
This branch names what is seen, the substance Jonathan promises to carry back to David.
THE PATTERN
Protection often comes through a trustworthy witness who brings another person’s reality into the hearing of power.
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.THE THREAD
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.Genesis 24:33 uses the root ד־ב־ר (d-b-r, “speak/word”) in both “told” (דִּבַּרְתִּי, dibbarti, “I have spoken”) and “errand” (דְּבָרָי, devarai, “my words/matter”). Jonathan uses that same root when he promises to speak about David, presenting advocacy as carrying a person’s matter into another’s hearing.
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