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1 Samuel 20:3

DavidJonathan
FearDeath and loss

1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

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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.

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BSB
But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”
KJV
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
WEB
David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
ASV
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found favor in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
DARBY
And David swore again and again, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found favour in thy sight: and he has thought, Jonathan shall not know this, lest he be grieved; but truly [as] Jehovah liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
BLB
And David took an oath again and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly [as] YHWH lives, and [as] your soul lives, but a step [is] between me and between death.”
ÅB
Men David svarte med en ed: Din far vet meget vel at jeg har funnet nåde for dine øyne, og derfor tenker han som så: Jonatan må ikke få vite dette, for at han ikke skal bli bedrøvet. Men så sant Herren lever, og så sant du lever: Det er bare et skritt mellom meg og døden.
OTB
Likevel sverget David igjen og sa: "Din far vet godt at jeg har funnet nåde i dine øyne, og han har sagt: 'Jonatan må ikke få vite dette, så han ikke blir bedrøvet.' Men sannelig, så sant Herren lever og så sant du selv lever, det er knapt et skritt mellom meg og døden."
B1930
Men David svarte med en ed: Din far vet meget vel at jeg har funnet nåde for dine øine, og derfor tenker han som så: Jonatan må ikke få vite dette, forat han ikke skal bli bedrøvet. Men så sant Herren lever, og så sant du lever: Det er bare et skritt mellem mig og døden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 6:13

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

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  • 1 Samuel 27:1

    And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

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  • 1 Samuel 25:26

    Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 2:6

    And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 1:26

    And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

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  • 2 Kings 2:2

    And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.

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  • 2 Kings 2:4

    And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 17:55

    And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

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