New English Translation
1 Samuel 20:14
14While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die!
1 Samuel 20:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not:
- New International Version (NIV)But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed,
- English Standard Version (ESV)If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die;
- New King James Version (NKJV)And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die;
Context of 1 Samuel 20:14
12Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know? 13But if my father intends to do you harm, may the Lord do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don’t let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the Lord be with you, as he was with my father. While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die! 15Don’t ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth 16and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.
Read all of 1 Samuel 201 Samuel 20:14 word by word
וְלֹ֖א אִם־עוֹדֶ֣נִּי חָ֑י וְלֹֽא־תַעֲשֶׂ֧ה עִמָּדִ֛י חֶ֥סֶד יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א אָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:14
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Show me the kindness of the Lord - When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt show kindness to me, and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14The general meaning is: Jonathan had a presentiment, doubtless from God, that David would be established upon the throne. By God‘s mercy he had the comfort, which he well deserved, of knowing that his own posterity would receive kindness at David‘s hand (see the marginal references).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-23Verses 11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-16loving devotion: The Hebrew word ḥesed refers to loyal love and faithfulness to a covenant (see study note on 1 Samuel 20:8). Jonathan reminded David to keep his commitment to him when David became king. Jonathan’s concern was reasonable. In the ancient world, a new king might kill members of the former royal family to remove rivals to the throne. Saul later made a similar request of David (1 Samuel 24:21).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:14
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries