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1 Samuel 20:21

19 When you have stayed three days, hurry down to the place you hid on the day this trouble began, and remain beside the stone Ezel.

20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target.

Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.

22 But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.

23 And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
KJV
And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
WEB
Behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;’ then come, for there is peace to you and no danger, as the LORD lives.
ASV
And, behold, I will send the lad, [saying], Go, find the arrows. If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; take them, and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as Jehovah liveth.
DARBY
And behold, I will send the lad, [saying,] Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; [as] Jehovah liveth.
BLB
And there I will send a boy: ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows [are] [here] on this side and away from you, take them and come,’ then [there is] safety for you and there will be no matter, as YHWH lives.
ÅB
Så skal jeg sende min tjener der bort og si: Gå og finn pilene! Sier jeg da til tjeneren: Se, pilene ligger hitenfor deg, ta dem - så kom! For da kan du være trygg, og der er ingen fare, så sant Herren lever.
OTB
Da skal jeg sende gutten og si: 'Gå, finn pilene.' Hvis jeg spesifikt sier til gutten: 'Se, pilene er på denne siden av deg; hent dem,' så kom ut, for det er trygghet for deg og ingen skade, så sant Herren lever.
B1930
Så skal jeg sende min tjener der bort og si: Gå og finn pilene! Sier jeg da til tjeneren: Se, pilene ligger hitenfor dig, ta dem - så kom! For da kan du være trygg, og der er ingen fare, så sant Herren lever.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 4:2

    and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

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  • Jeremiah 5:2

    Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”

    Read in context

  • Amos 8:14

    Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.”

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 12:16

    And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people.

    Read in context