If it is more natural to do so, the verb said may be translated “answered” as in Good News Translation.

Far be it from you! See the comments on verse 2 and 2.30.

If I knew: literally “if to know I knew.” Good News Translation captures the force of the reinforcing verbs by adding “for sure,” and Fox, in his characteristic way, says “If I were to know, yes, know that my father has concluded evil to come against you.”

The passive formulation it was determined by my father may easily be made active by saying something like “my father has decided” or by following the model of Good News Translation. The Hebrew is literally “that evil was determined by my father.” The construction is the same as that in verse 7.

Would I not tell you? This question is Jonathan’s way of insisting that he would most definitely tell David if he knew his father wanted to kill him. Since the question format may not communicate this certainty in some languages, it may be advisable to translate “I’ll certainly let you know” (Contemporary English Version), or perhaps “I swear that I will inform you” (La Bible du Semeur).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .