The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:30 Explained

1 Samuel 20:30

KJV: Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

YLT: And the anger of Saul burneth against Jonathan, and he saith to him, 'Son of a perverse rebellious woman! have I not known that thou art fixing on the son of Jesse to thy shame, and to the shame of the nakedness of thy mother?

Darby: And Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame and to the shame of thy mother's nakedness?

ASV: Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and unto the shame of thy mother's nakedness?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Saul's  anger  was kindled  against Jonathan,  and he said  unto him, Thou son  of the perverse  rebellious  [woman], do not I know  that thou hast chosen  the son  of Jesse  to thine own confusion,  and unto the confusion  of thy mother's  nakedness? 

What does 1 Samuel 20:30 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:30-42 - The Sign Of The Arrow
It had become clear that the arrows were against David. It was useless to endeavor to fight against the force of irresistible circumstances. We are to hold our ground till the Captain, by an indubitable sign, tells us that we may retire. But, when the hour of parting came, the two fond hearts were well-nigh broken. How little the lad realized the tragedy which was taking place beneath the calm beauty of that morning dawn! The birds were singing and the flowers were unfolding to the sun as usual; but to the two friends the sun was darkened and a pall lay over nature. Yet God was leading David forth to lay the foundations of the kingdom of the Messiah, and the two were still joined in God. The Lord was between them, as the ocean is between the United States and Great Britain-not as a divider, but as a medium of communication.
Are the arrows beyond thee? Be of good cheer; there is something beyond their farthest reach. God is beyond, a kingdom is beyond, songs of overflowing ecstasy are beyond! Arise and go forth into the unknown. If thou shalt take the wings of the morning, thou canst not outstrip the love of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 20

1  David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11  Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18  Jonathan's token to David
23  Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35  Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 20:30 mean?

And was aroused anger of Saul against Jonathan and he said to him You son of a perverse rebellious [woman] do not I know that have chosen you the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of nakedness of your mother
וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף שָׁאוּל֙ בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בֶּֽן־ נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־ בֹחֵ֤ר אַתָּה֙ לְבֶן־ יִשַׁ֔י לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁת עֶרְוַ֥ת ؟ אִמֶּֽךָ

וַיִּֽחַר־  And  was  aroused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
אַ֤ף  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
שָׁאוּל֙  of  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן  against  Jonathan 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֔וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
בֶּֽן־  You  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נַעֲוַ֖ת  of  a  perverse 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: עָוָה 
Sense: to bend, twist, distort.
הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת  rebellious  [woman] 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַרְדּוּת  
Sense: rebellion, rebelliousness.
הֲל֣וֹא  do  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדַ֗עְתִּי  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בֹחֵ֤ר  have  chosen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
לְבֶן־  the  son 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשַׁ֔י  of  Jesse 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישַׁי 
Sense: son of Boaz and the father of king David.
לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔  to  your  own  shame 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁת  and  to  the  shame 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
עֶרְוַ֥ת  of  nakedness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֶרְוָה  
Sense: nakedness, nudity, shame, pudenda.
؟ אִמֶּֽךָ  of  your  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.