1 Samuel 20:42

And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jonathan speaks to David immediately after their farewell in 1 Samuel 20:41, concluding their encounter before David departs and Jonathan returns to the city.

The words — The text centers on לֵ֣ךְ (lekh), a direct command meaning go, and בָּ֥א (ba'), which literally means he went, marking the transition from conversation to physical separation.

The thread — The sworn covenant between the two men reappears in 1 Samuel 23:18, while the parting benedition mirrors the phrase recorded in 1 Samuel 1:17.

Why it lands — The text records a formal oath invoking the LORD as witness between both families, which establishes a binding obligation that survives immediate separation and demands continued loyalty beyond the present crisis.

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

וַיֹּ֧אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said וַיָּ֖קָםva/i.Ya.komand/ he arose יְהוֹנָתָ֛ןye.ho.na.TanJonathan וַיֵּלַ֑ךְva/i.ye.Lakhand/ he went לְדָוִ֖דle./da.Vidto/ David וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ןvi./ho.na.Tanand/ Jonathan לֵ֣ךְlekhgo בָּ֥אba'he went לְשָׁל֑וֹםle./sha.Lomto/ peace הָעִֽיר׃ha./'Irthe/ city אֲשֶׁר֩'a.Sherthat נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּnish.Ba'.nuwe have sworn an oath שְׁנֵ֜ינוּshe.Nei./nu[the] two of/ us אֲנַ֗חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuwe בְּשֵׁ֤םbe./Shemby/ [the] name of יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying יְהוָ֞הYah.wehYahweh יִֽהְיֶ֣ה׀yih.Yehhe will be בֵּינִ֣יbei./Nibetween/ me וּבֵינֶ֗ךָu./vei.Ne./khaand/ between/ you וּבֵ֥יןu./Veinand/ between זַרְעִ֛יzar.'/Ioffspring/ my וּבֵ֥יןu./Veinand/ between זַרְעֲךָ֖zar.'a./Khaoffspring/ your עַד־'ad-until עוֹלָֽם׃ פo.Lamperpetuity

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 1:17 “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”
1 Samuel 23:18 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
1 Samuel 20:22 But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.
Numbers 6:26 may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
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.”
Luke 7:50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Acts 16:36 The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

People named

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