1 Samuel 20:10

10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

1 Samuel 20:10 in Other Translations

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

10 Then David asked, “How will I know whether or not your father is angry?”

10 David asked, "And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?"

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

10 Then David asked, "Who will tell me whether or not your father gives you a harsh answer?"

10 So David asked Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

10 David asked, "Who will tell me if your father answers you in a mean way?"

1 Samuel 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:10

Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?
&c.] The disposition of Saul's mind towards him, whether he gave a kind answer to the report of Jonathan concerning him:

or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
or hard words, as the Targum, whether he answers in a kind, loving, and smooth manner, or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here, how he should be informed of this, since especially, if in the latter, it would not be safe for Jonathan to come himself to him, nor could he well trust the message with any other. Abarbinel thinks, that the first of these expressions is by way of question, who should declare to him his father's will and intention, whether good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry, woe unto me, if thy father should answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my account.

1 Samuel 20:10 In-Context

8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the LORD. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

9 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11 “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?