1 Samuel 20 3

1 Samuel 20:3 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.

1 Samuel 20:3 nkjv

Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows 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 the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."

1 Samuel 20:3 niv

But David took an oath and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."

1 Samuel 20:3 esv

But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not 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."

1 Samuel 20:3 nlt

Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, "Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, 'I won't tell Jonathan ? why should I hurt him?' But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!"

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 3 Meaning

David passionately vows to Jonathan, affirming his conviction that King Saul is fully aware of their deep friendship and is deliberately plotting to kill David without Jonathan's knowledge. David underscores the dire immediacy of his peril, declaring that he is merely a single step away from death, seeking to convince Jonathan of the absolute gravity of the situation.

1 Samuel 20 3 Context

1 Samuel 20:3 occurs at a critical juncture in the narrative of David's life, directly after he has fled from Saul's presence (1 Sam 19:18). David, acutely aware of Saul's escalating murderous intent, seeks refuge and answers from his closest friend, Jonathan. Jonathan, deeply loyal to his father, initially struggles to believe David's pronouncements of mortal danger, maintaining hope in Saul's paternal love and covenant fidelity (1 Sam 20:2). This verse marks David's desperate attempt to convey the absolute reality and immediacy of the threat. The broader chapter of 1 Samuel 20 then unfolds their meticulously planned test to confirm Saul's intentions and the reaffirmation of their sacred covenant, highlighting the tragic conflict between Jonathan's devotion to David and his filial duty, as well as Saul's deep-seated envy and murderous paranoia against the divinely chosen successor.

1 Samuel 20 3 Word analysis

• "But David": Establishes a sharp contrast to Jonathan's preceding statement of disbelief, emphasizing David's firm conviction based on firsthand experience of Saul's escalating malice.
• "vowed again": From the Hebrew שבע (shava'), in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative or solemn declaration. It implies taking a formal, binding oath, not merely a casual promise. "Again" points back to prior oaths (e.g., 1 Sam 19:6 for Saul's short-lived oath not to harm David), highlighting the gravity and repeated need for solemn assurance in their treacherous circumstances.
• "saying": Introduces direct speech, lending immediacy and authenticity to David's urgent plea.
• "'Your father certainly knows": יָדֹעַ יָדַע (yadoa yada') uses an infinitive absolute before the finite verb, a common Hebrew construction for emphatic affirmation, meaning "knows, truly knows" or "knows beyond a doubt." David is not speculating; he is stating an undeniable fact of Saul's complete awareness and complicity in the plot.
• "that I have found favor in your eyes;": The Hebrew word חֵן (chen) means "favor," "grace," or "acceptance." David's understanding is that Saul has perceived Jonathan's deep affection and preferential regard for David, recognizing it as a key factor in Saul's decision to conceal his murderous intentions from his own son.
• "and he said, 'Let not Jonathan know this...": This reveals Saul's manipulative and deceitful character. He consciously plots against David while explicitly aiming to keep his son in the dark. This suggests Saul's understanding of Jonathan's deep loyalty to David and his fear that Jonathan might interfere or be grieved.
• "...lest he be grieved.'": Saul feigns paternal concern (יֵעָצֵב, ye'atsev, from עצב, atsav - to be pained, grieved), making his secret plot even more insidious. It highlights the tension between his public facade and his hidden, malicious intent.
• "But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives,": This is a powerful, dual oath. חַי יְהוָה וְחֵי נַפְשֶׁךָ (chai YHWH v'chai nafsheka). Swearing by "the LORD lives" is the most solemn oath one could take in Israel, invoking God's very being and covenant faithfulness as surety. Adding "as your soul lives" adds an equally personal and immediate oath by Jonathan's own life, emphasizing David's desperation for Jonathan to grasp the absolute truth of his statement.
• "there is but a step between me and death.'": The Hebrew כְּפֶשַׁע בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵךְ הַמָּוֶת (ke-pesha' beini u'veinekh hamavet) is highly idiomatic and profoundly vivid. כְּפֶשַׁע (ke-pesha') literally means "as a step," or "as a breach/trespass." While pesha commonly means transgression or sin, here it refers to a "step" or a narrow gap/distance. The phrase conveys immediate, imminent danger; David is on the very edge of his life, with death being a mere breath or movement away. It highlights David's visceral, terror-filled understanding of his desperate situation.

Words-group analysis

• "vowed again... saying, 'Your father certainly knows...'": This sequence underscores David's fervent, desperate attempt to convey irrefutable truth to his friend, leveraging the weight of a solemn oath combined with clear evidence of Saul's deceptive actions and malicious awareness. It reflects David's complete certainty despite Jonathan's lingering doubt.
• "I have found favor in your eyes; and he said, 'Let not Jonathan know this... lest he be grieved.'": This segment beautifully reveals the dynamic. Saul is aware of the special bond between Jonathan and David and manipulates this knowledge to conceal his evil plot, illustrating Saul's strategic malevolence and David's insight into it.
• "But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.": This entire clause is a powerful and dramatic affirmation of dire peril. The dual sacred oaths (chai YHWH v'chai nafsheka) elevate the statement to the highest possible level of solemnity, forcing Jonathan to confront the raw, unvarnished truth of David's extreme and immediate mortal danger. It epitomizes David's feeling of utter vulnerability.

1 Samuel 20 3 Bonus section

The intense drama of this verse lies in the psychological battle for truth. Jonathan represents trusting loyalty and perhaps a touch of naiveté regarding his father's darkness, while David embodies raw, divinely given discernment coupled with human terror. David's direct confrontation of Saul's deceit (he said, 'Let not Jonathan know this') peels back Saul's feigned concern, exposing his calculated wickedness. This situation prefigures the plight of the "anointed one" (Messiah, mashiach) in other biblical narratives and ultimately finds resonance in the persecution of Christ, who likewise faced malicious plots, deception, and the constant threat of death, even from those seemingly close or in positions of authority. The unwavering nature of oaths in this context also speaks to God's own covenantal faithfulness, where His "yes" is always "yes."

1 Samuel 20 3 Commentary

David's words in 1 Samuel 20:3 convey the profound despair and acute insight of a man hounded by a relentless enemy. Unlike Jonathan, whose filial piety makes him hesitant to fully believe the depth of his father's malice, David has experienced Saul's direct murderous attempts and witnessed his deteriorating state. David's use of a double, solemn oath – invoking both the living God and Jonathan's own life – highlights the extreme gravity of the situation and his urgent need for Jonathan to grasp the truth. The phrase "there is but a step between me and death" vividly paints a picture of David living on the precipice, demonstrating his utter vulnerability and the immediacy of the threat. This verse is pivotal in shifting Jonathan's perception from hope to grim reality, paving the way for their subsequent covenant and David's flight. It speaks to David's discernment, Jonathan's loyal love, and Saul's tragically entrenched rebellion against both man and God.