1 Samuel 20:3

1 Samuel 20:3 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.”
• English Standard Version (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."
• New King James Version (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.”

Context of 1 Samuel 20:3

1David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, “What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he’s trying to kill me?” 2Jonathan answered, “That’s unthinkable! You’re not going to die! My father does nothing without telling me, whether it’s important or not. Why should my father hide this from me? It’s just not that way.” But David took an oath, saying, “Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said ⌞to himself⌟, ‘Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.’ But I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, I’m only one step away from death.” 4Jonathan said to David, “I’ll do whatever you say.” 5David replied, “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, when I should sit and eat at the king’s ⌞table⌟. But let me go and hide in the countryside for two more nights.

1 Samuel 20:3 word by word

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע ע֜וֹד דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יָדֹ֨עַ יָדַ֜ע אָבִ֗יךָ כִּֽי־מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אַל־יֵֽדַע־זֹ֥את יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן פֶּן־יֵֽעָצֵ֑ב וְאוּלָ֗ם חַי־יְהוָה֙ וְחֵ֣י נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ כִּ֣י כְפֶ֔שַׂע בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הַמָּֽוֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• swareשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• moreover, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Thy fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• certainlyיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that I have foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• graceחֵןchên · favorH2580
• in thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• Let not Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• this, lest he be grievedעָצַב‛âtsab · to hurtH6087
• but trulyאוּלָם'ûlâm · butH199
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
• thy soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• but a stepפֶּ֫שַׂעpeώa‛ · stepH6587
• between me and deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:3

• Deuteronomy 6:13You must fear the Lord your God, serve him, and take your oaths only in his name.
• Jeremiah 4:2if you take the oath, ‘As the Lord lives …’ in an honest, fair, and right way, then the nations will be blessed, and they will be honored by me.”
• Hebrews 6:16When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments.
• 1 Samuel 25:26“The Lord has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the Lord and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal.
• 1 Samuel 27:1David said to himself, “One of these days Saul will sweep me away. The best thing for me to do is to make sure that I escape to Philistine territory. Then Saul will give up looking all over Israel for me, and I’ll escape from him.”
• 2 Samuel 15:21But Ittai answered the king, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord and the king live: Wherever you are, whether you’re dead or alive, I’ll be there.”
• 2 Kings 2:2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here because the Lord is sending me to Bethel.” Elisha answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went to Bethel.
• 1 Samuel 1:26“Sir,” Hannah said, “as sure as you live, I’m the woman who stood here next to you and prayed to the Lord.
• 1 Samuel 17:55As Saul watched David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner answered, “I solemnly swear, as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”
• Jeremiah 38:16So King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah, “The Lord gave us life. As the Lord lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to kill you.”
• Deuteronomy 28:66Your life will always be hanging by a thread. You will live in terror day and night. You will never feel sure of your life.
• Psalms 116:3The ropes of death became tangled around me. The horrors of the grave took hold of me. I experienced pain and agony.
• 1 Corinthians 15:30Why are we constantly putting ourselves in danger?
• 2 Corinthians 1:9In fact, we still feel as if we’re under a death sentence. But we suffered so that we would stop trusting ourselves and learn to trust God, who brings the dead back to life.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3There is but a step between me and death - My life is in the most imminent danger. Your father has, most assuredly, determined to destroy me. The same figure used here, there is but a step between me and death, may be found in Juvenal, who, satirizing those who risk their lives for the sake of gain in perilous voyages, speaks thus: - I nune et ventis animam committe, dolato Confisus ligno, digitis a morte remotus Quatuor aut septem, si sit latissima teda…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And David sware moreover - Rather, “yet again.” He met Jonathan‘s denial by repeating his statement and confirming it with an oath.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3Jonathan did not understand his father's plans. David's willingness to swear by the Lord showed he was sure about Saul's intentions.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-101Sa 20:1-10. David Consults with Jonathan for His Safety. 1-3. David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan--He could not remain in Naioth, for he had strong reason to fear that when the religious fit, if we may so call it, was over, Saul would relapse into his usual fell and sanguinary temper. It may be thought that David acted imprudently in directing his flight to Gibeah. But he was evidently prompted to go thither by the most…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:3

• Death
• Life
• Oath

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Artillery
• Require
• Certain; Certainly; Certainty
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)
• Oath
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary