The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:32 Explained

1 Samuel 20:32

KJV: And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

YLT: And Jonathan answereth Saul his father, and saith unto him, 'Why is he put to death? what hath he done?'

Darby: And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be put to death? what has he done?

ASV: And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jonathan  answered  Saul  his father,  and said  unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain?  what hath he done? 

What does 1 Samuel 20:32 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 20:32 mean?

And answered Jonathan - Saul his father and said to him why should he be killed what has he done
וַיַּ֙עַן֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן אֶת־ שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו לָ֥מָּה ؟ יוּמַ֖ת מֶ֥ה ؟ עָשָֽׂה

וַיַּ֙עַן֙  And  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן  Jonathan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שָׁא֖וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
אָבִ֑יו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֛יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לָ֥מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
؟ יוּמַ֖ת  should  he  be  killed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
؟ עָשָֽׂה  has  he  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.