Bible Strands
1 Samuel 20:12
and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jonathan speaks these words to David while they stand alone in the field after departing Saul’s house. He makes this declaration immediately before going to test his father’s intentions regarding David’s fate.
The words — יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yahweh Elohei Yisrael) literally means “Yahweh, God of Israel,” functioning as the formal witness to Jonathan’s oath. כִּי (ki) operates as a conditional marker that introduces the certainty of his upcoming investigation.
The thread — This invocation of the covenant deity matches the oath formula in Joshua 22:22 and parallels the divine scrutiny in Job 31:4 and Psalm 17:3. These passages establish a consistent biblical pattern of swearing by God’s omniscience to guarantee a person’s truthfulness.
Why it lands — The text records Jonathan binding his loyalty to a formal divine oath rather than relying on personal sentiment. It requires the reader to evaluate how covenantal fear compels a person to risk familial allegiance to protect another.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
Cross-references
- Joshua 22:22 “The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
- Job 31:4 Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
- Psalms 17:3 You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
- Psalms 139:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- Proverbs 20:5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
- Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.