1 Samuel 20:3 “But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found…”

1 Samuel 20:3

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Dauid sware againe and sayd, Thy father knoweth that I haue found grace in thine eyes: therefore he thinketh, Ionathan shall not knowe it, lest he be sorie: but in deede, as the Lord liueth, and as thy soule liueth, there is but a step betweene me and death.

Darby Translation

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.

Young's Literal Translation

And David sweareth again, and saith, 'Thy father hath certainly known that I have found grace in thine eyes, and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved; and yet, Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, but — as a step between me and death.'

Bible in Basic English

But David took his oath again and said, Your father sees that I am dear to you; so he says to himself, Let Jonathan have no idea of this, for it will be a grief to him; but as the Lord is living, and as your soul is living, there is only a step between me and death.

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Cross references

“sware”

Deuteronomy 6:13 Jeremiah 4:2 Hebrews 6:16

Deuteronomy 6:13 · BSB

Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.

Jeremiah 4:2 · BSB

and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

Hebrews 6:16 · BSB

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

“but truly”

1 Samuel 25:26 1 Samuel 27:1 2 Kings 2:6 2 Kings 2:2 2 Kings 2:4 2 Samuel 15:21

1 Samuel 25:26 · BSB

Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like…

1 Samuel 27:1 · BSB

David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all ove…

2 Kings 2:6 · BSB

And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

2 Kings 2:2 · BSB

and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

2 Kings 2:4 · BSB

And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

2 Samuel 15:21 · BSB

But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

“as thy soul”

1 Samuel 1:26 1 Samuel 17:55 Jeremiah 38:16

1 Samuel 1:26 · BSB

“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.

1 Samuel 17:55 · BSB

As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”

Jeremiah 38:16 · BSB

But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”

“but a step”

Deuteronomy 28:66 Psalm 116:3 1 Corinthians 15:30 1 Corinthians 15:31 2 Corinthians 1:9 2 Corinthians 1:10

Deuteronomy 28:66 · BSB

So your life will hang in doubt before you, and you will be afraid night and day, never certain of survival.

Psalm 116:3 · BSB

The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

1 Corinthians 15:30 · BSB

And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

1 Corinthians 15:31 · BSB

I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:9 · BSB

Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 1:10 · BSB

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

2“Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”

4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you desire, I will do for you.”

Read 1 Samuel 20