King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 20:42 Mean?

1 Samuel 20:42 in the King James Version says “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... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. forasmuch: or, the LORD be witness of that which etc

1 Samuel 20:42 · KJV


Context

40

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. artillery: Heb. instruments his lad: Heb. the lad that was his

41

And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

42

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. forasmuch: or, the LORD be witness of that which etc


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

Jonathan's benediction - 'Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD' - sends David forth grounded in covenant certainty. The eternal scope 'between my seed and thy seed for ever' extends far beyond their immediate crisis. Jonathan's final words commission David into a future neither would fully share but both trusted to God. Peace (shalom) amid parting comes from trust in covenant faithfulness.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Covenant blessings at parting invoked divine protection for the journey ahead. The multigenerational scope reflected ancient Near Eastern understanding that covenants bound families across generations. David would fulfill this covenant through Mephibosheth.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does certainty about covenant relationships provide peace in uncertain circumstances?
  2. What future generations might be affected by the commitments you make today?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
לֵאמֹ֔ר1 of 27

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

וִיהֽוֹנָתָ֖ן2 of 27

And Jonathan

H3083

jehonathan, the name of four israelites

לְדָוִ֖ד3 of 27

to David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

לֵ֣ךְ4 of 27
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

לְשָׁל֑וֹם5 of 27

in peace

H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

אֲשֶׁר֩6 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ7 of 27

forasmuch as we have sworn

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ8 of 27

both

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

אֲנַ֗חְנוּ9 of 27
H587

we

בְּשֵׁ֤ם10 of 27

of us in the name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

יְהוָ֞ה11 of 27

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לֵאמֹ֔ר12 of 27

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֞ה13 of 27

The LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

יִֽהְיֶ֣ה׀14 of 27
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בֵּינִ֣י15 of 27
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ16 of 27
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

וּבֵ֥ין17 of 27
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

זַרְעֲךָ֖18 of 27

and thy seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

וּבֵ֥ין19 of 27
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

זַרְעֲךָ֖20 of 27

and thy seed

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

עַד21 of 27

for

H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

עוֹלָֽם׃22 of 27

ever

H5769

properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

וַיָּ֖קָם23 of 27

And he arose

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ24 of 27
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וִיהֽוֹנָתָ֖ן25 of 27

And Jonathan

H3083

jehonathan, the name of four israelites

בָּ֥א26 of 27

went

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הָעִֽיר׃27 of 27

into the city

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 20:42 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 20:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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