1 Samuel 20:38
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקְרָ֤א
cried
H7121
וַיִּקְרָ֤א
cried
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 16
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
after
H310
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
נַ֤עַר
lad
H5288
נַ֤עַר
lad
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
4 of 16
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
ח֖וּשָׁה
haste
H2363
ח֖וּשָׁה
haste
Strong's:
H2363
Word #:
6 of 16
to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with excitement or enjoyment
אַֽל
H408
אַֽל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
7 of 16
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תַּעֲמֹ֑ד
stay
H5975
תַּעֲמֹ֑ד
stay
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
8 of 16
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
וַיְלַקֵּ֞ט
gathered up
H3950
וַיְלַקֵּ֞ט
gathered up
Strong's:
H3950
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, to pick up, i.e., (generally) to gather; specifically, to glean
נַ֤עַר
lad
H5288
נַ֤עַר
lad
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
10 of 16
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Triple commands were emphatic in Hebrew rhetoric. The servant would interpret urgency as normal impatience. Jonathan's emotional state likely added genuine intensity to his voice, masking its true purpose behind apparent annoyance.
Questions for Reflection
- How do urgency and haste in one context carry different meaning in another?
- What does the servant's ignorance teach about how God uses unaware instruments?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
The threefold urgency - 'Make speed, haste, stay not' - intensified the message to David. These words ostensibly hurried the servant but communicated deadly urgency to the hidden fugitive. Each term reinforced danger: speed indicated emergency, haste emphasized immediacy, 'stay not' commanded departure. The boy heard an impatient master; David heard a friend warning him to flee for his life. The innocent servant 'gathered up the arrows' and returned, his simple task complete, utterly unaware of the drama surrounding his actions.