1 Samuel 20:39

39 But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.

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 to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is the arrow not beyond you?"
38 Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry, be quick, do not linger." So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.
39 But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.
40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city."
41 As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other; David wept the more.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.