1 Samuel 20 42

1 Samuel 20:42 kjv

And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:42 nkjv

Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.' " So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:42 niv

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'?" Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

1 Samuel 20:42 esv

Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:42 nlt

At last Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the LORD's name. The LORD is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever." Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 42 Meaning

This verse solemnizes the parting covenant between Jonathan and David, marking a deeply emotional and significant moment in their extraordinary friendship. It signifies that their bond, affirmed by a sacred oath taken in the Lord's name, would not only endure through their lifetimes but also extend to their descendants forever. Jonathan assures David of God's guardianship over their sworn loyalty and the security of their respective offspring, providing a spiritual assurance amidst their forced separation and the immediate dangers David faced.

1 Samuel 20 42 Context

1 Samuel chapter 20 depicts the climax of the relationship between David and Jonathan and their final meeting before David’s prolonged flight from King Saul. Having observed Saul’s escalating rage and repeated attempts on David’s life, Jonathan devised a plan to ascertain his father's true intentions towards David. Through secret signals (the shooting of arrows), Jonathan confirmed Saul’s unyielding resolve to kill David. This verse comes at the emotionally charged moment when Jonathan informs David of Saul's deadly intentions, leading to their tearful farewell. Knowing the separation would be long and perilous, they invoked and reaffirmed their sacred covenant, highlighting their unbreakable bond in the face of imminent danger and uncertain futures. This pact becomes a cornerstone for David’s later actions concerning Saul’s descendants.

1 Samuel 20 42 Word analysis

• Then Jonathan said to David: Emphasizes Jonathan's initiative and authority in sealing this solemn moment, demonstrating his profound care for David's safety and their relationship.
• "Go in peace": (Hebrew: lekh leshalom - לֶךְ־לְשָׁלֹ֑ום). This is a common Hebrew farewell, but here it conveys far more than a simple goodbye. It is a heartfelt wish for safety, well-being, and divine favor, acknowledging the treacherous circumstances David faced. It signifies not just an absence of conflict, but the holistic state of shalom, God’s provision and presence.
• "for we have sworn both of us": (Hebrew: nishbanu - נִשְׁבַּ֤עְנוּ, from shaba’ - "to swear, to take an oath"). Highlights the reciprocal, binding nature of their covenant. An oath was a profound, legally and spiritually weighty act in the ancient Near East, making a promise utterly binding. This mutual commitment underscored the equality and seriousness of their friendship.
• "in the name of the Lord": (Hebrew: b'shem YHWH - בְּשֵׁם יְהוָ֑ה). This elevates the covenant from a mere human promise to a divine one. By invoking YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, they make Him the witness and the ultimate guarantor of their agreement. Breaking such an oath would be an affront to God Himself, ensuring its solemnity and perceived permanence.
• "saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you'": (Hebrew: YHWH yihyeh beni u'b'inecha - יְהוָה֮ יִהְיֶ֣ה בֵינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֒ךָ). This specific phrase (reminiscent of Gen 31:49, the Mizpah blessing) indicates that God is not just an external witness but actively present "between" them, implying divine oversight, arbitration, and enforcement of the covenant, even in separation. It signifies a shared commitment to God, whose presence bridges their physical distance and safeguards their agreement.
• "and between my offspring and your offspring": (Hebrew: u'bein zar'i u'bein zar'echa - וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעִ֠י וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעֶךָ). A crucial aspect of significant covenants in the biblical worldview. It extends the bond and its obligations to future generations. Jonathan, knowing David would be king, secured the well-being of his own descendants through this oath, demonstrating his extraordinary humility, faith in God's plan for David, and selfless love.
• "forever": (Hebrew: ad 'olam - עַד־עוֹלָֽם). Emphasizes the eternal, perpetual, and unconditional nature of the covenant. This term describes promises that transcend human lifespan, implying a bond meant to last indefinitely, similar to God's own everlasting covenants with His people and His eternal kingdom.

Words-group Analysis

• "Go in peace, for we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord": This grouping ties Jonathan's parting blessing with the deep spiritual grounding of their covenant. The peace is secured not merely by Jonathan's goodwill, but by the binding, God-witnessed oath they share. The phrase "in the name of the Lord" transforms a personal promise into a sacred trust, putting God's integrity behind its fulfillment.
• "The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever": This comprehensive clause defines the core content and duration of their sacred oath. It outlines the expansive scope of God's guardianship – bridging not only the immediate gap between them but also extending this divine oversight and the covenant's protective reach across generations and throughout all time. It articulates the deep, trans-generational nature of their bond and trust in God's perpetual involvement.

1 Samuel 20 42 Bonus section

• The enduring nature of this covenant (forever) highlights a key biblical theme: God's faithfulness to His own eternal covenants, which serve as the pattern for human covenants, especially when made in His name. Just as God keeps His word to David's greater "offspring" (Christ), David himself kept his word to Jonathan's physical offspring.
• Jonathan’s profound spiritual maturity is evident; he fully recognizes God's hand in choosing David as the future king (1 Sam 23:17), accepting this truth despite the personal cost to his own royal prospects. His loyalty to David stems from a greater loyalty to God’s sovereign plan.
• The farewell in 1 Samuel 20:41, where "they wept aloud together, David even more," adds a layer of raw human emotion to the solemn covenant, showcasing the deep affection between them despite the solemn, divinely binding nature of their oath.
• This verse serves as a crucial theological bridge for later events, especially David's kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9). The forever of the covenant isn't just symbolic; it dictates real-world actions of loyalty and grace across future generations, even when politically disadvantageous.

1 Samuel 20 42 Commentary

1 Samuel 20:42 is the poignant farewell and solemn sealing of the most significant friendship in the Old Testament. It underscores the profound self-sacrifice and prophetic humility of Jonathan, who willingly secured his future safety through the very one who would supplant his family's throne. By invoking "the name of the Lord" and extending the covenant to "offspring... forever," David and Jonathan established an enduring, God-guaranteed bond that transcended their immediate separation, Saul's enmity, and even death itself. This verse illustrates the power of loyalty rooted in divine witness and trust. It stands as a testament to the fact that genuine covenants, entered into with God as guarantor, provide peace and security that outlast human limitations and political upheavals. The phrase "The Lord shall be between me and you" beautifully encapsulates the divine bridging of distance and the sacred protection offered. This foundational covenant guided David's actions towards Mephibosheth later, fulfilling his promise to Jonathan and demonstrating that the forever in biblical covenants, particularly those overseen by God, holds true across generations, impacting human conduct with enduring righteousness.