What Does 1 Samuel 20:33 Mean in the King James?

And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

1 Samuel 20:33 · KJV

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

The javelin aimed at Jonathan makes the hidden decision visible: Saul’s purpose to kill David is already complete.

THE MEANING

You see an intention become legible through action: Saul hurls a javelin at Jonathan, and Jonathan perceives that his father is resolved to kill David. The attack on Jonathan exposes the deadly purpose toward David.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie is that a violent outburst can be dismissed as passing anger. Here the javelin reveals that the intention to kill David is settled.

THE ROOT

כָּלָה

kālāh

GROWS FROM

כלה

Be complete or reach an end; in intensive forms, finish or consume.

The Hebrew phrase is built around “complete” or “finished,” giving “determined” the force of a purpose already brought to its conclusion. Jonathan perceives a settled intention to kill David, not merely anger flaring in the moment.

ALSO GROWS

killāh: Finished, completed, consumed

כִּלָּה

This form carries the same root toward an outcome brought to its end, illuminating the finality Jonathan recognizes.

takhlit: End, completion

תַּכְלִית

The root also names an endpoint; here the purpose has a deadly endpoint.

וַיֵּדַע

wayyēdaʿ

GROWS FROM

ידע

Know, recognize, perceive through encounter.

“knew” in this verse is wayyēdaʿ. Jonathan’s knowing comes through what he witnesses: the javelin makes the intention perceptible. The root ties recognition to encounter, so this is not a guess detached from what happens before him.

ALSO GROWS

daʿat: Knowledge, perception

דַּעַת

This noun from the same root points to the recognition Jonathan reaches through what he sees.

hôdîaʿ: Make known, declare

הוֹדִיעַ

The root can also describe making something known; Saul’s act makes his purpose known to Jonathan.

לְהַכֹּתוֹ

lehakōtô

GROWS FROM

נכה

Strike, hit, smite.

“smite” in this verse is lehakōtô. The word names a physical strike, keeping the threat embodied and immediate. Jonathan’s recognition follows an attack with a weapon, not an abstract sign of hostility.

ALSO GROWS

makkāh: Blow, wound, stroke

מַכָּה

The same root links the act of striking to the injury it can leave behind.

mukkāh: Struck, smitten, wounded

מוּכֶּה

This form names the one who receives the blow, keeping the threat directed toward a body.

THE PATTERN

When hostility takes physical form, the hidden purpose becomes visible.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Genesis 4:8 · KJVCain’s violence makes the hostility physical and carries it to its lethal end.

Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

Proverbs 26:26 · KJVHatred may be covered by deceit, but what it produces is eventually exposed.

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 8:59 · KJVThe stones in their hands make the intent to harm Jesus visible before a blow lands.

THE THREAD

And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 · KJV

Both passages use ⁨טוּל⁩ (ṭûl), “to cast,” for Saul’s javelin. Earlier it flies toward David; here it flies toward Jonathan, making the same lethal intention visible through a changed target.

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