1 Samuel 20:39

39 But the boy did not know anything [about this]; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

1 Samuel 20:39 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:39

But the lad knew not anything
What was meant by shooting the arrows, and by shooting them beyond where he was, and by bidding him make haste to bring them:

only Jonathan and David knew the matter;
what was signified by them, those being signs agreed upon between them.

1 Samuel 20:39 In-Context

37 When the boy came up to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called out after the boy and said, "[Is] not the arrow {beyond you}?"

38 Then Jonathan called out after the boy, "Quick, hurry, do not linger!" And Jonathan's servant collected the arrows and came to his master.

39 But the boy did not know anything [about this]; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 Jonathan gave his weapons to his servant and said to him, "Go, bring [them] to the city."

41 The boy left, and then David got up from the south side, and he fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed {each other} and wept {together}, but David [wept] the most.