Bible Strands
1 Samuel 20:15
and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jonathan speaks this pledge to David during their secret farewell, binding his own lineage to David’s survival and future prosperity.
The words — The Hebrew תַכְרִת (takh.Rit) translates literally as "you must cut off," which the text pairs with חַסְדְּךָ (chas.de./Kha) for "your covenant loyalty" and עַד־עוֹלָם (ad-olam) for "until perpetuity" to form a strict prohibition against ever withdrawing familial devotion.
The thread — 2 Samuel 21:7 records David sparing Mephibosheth specifically because of this sworn oath, and 2 Samuel 9:1 shows David actively searching for a Saulite survivor to extend kindness on Jonathan’s behalf.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize that covenant loyalty must outlive political danger, personal mortality, and the natural inclination to sever ties with a fallen family line.
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
But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 21:7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 1 Samuel 24:21 So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
- 2 Samuel 9:1 Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”