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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — David speaks to King Saul while concealed in the cave at En Gedi, immediately after refusing to strike him. He makes the request before Saul departs and before David’s men retreat to their stronghold.

The words — The verb הִשָּׁ֤בְעָֽה (hi.Sha.ve.'a) commands a formal sworn oath, while תַּכְרִ֥ית (takh.Rit) literally means to cut off or destroy. These terms frame the plea as a binding legal demand rather than a personal favor.

The thread — This plea for dynastic protection parallels Abraham’s demand in Genesis 21:23 and anticipates the later execution of Saul’s descendants in 2 Samuel 21:6. It also mirrors David’s request for covenant loyalty in 1 Samuel 20:14.

Why it lands — The text requires a concrete political pledge that overrides tribal vengeance and guarantees safety for a defeated ruler’s lineage. It forces the reader to examine how sworn commitments must actively restrain the exercise of absolute power.

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

וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore הִשָּׁ֤בְעָהhi.Sha.ve.'a/hswear an oath/ !לִּי֙l/ito <the>/ meבַּֽיהוָ֔הba./Yah.wehby/ Yahweh אִם־'im-if תַּכְרִ֥יתtakh.Rityou will cut off אֶת־'et-<obj.>זַרְעִ֖יzar.'/Ioffspring/ my אַֽחֲרָ֑י'a.cha.Ra/iafter/ me וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if תַּשְׁמִ֥ידtash.Midyou will destroy אֶת־'et-<obj.>שְׁמִ֖יshe.M/iname/ my מִבֵּ֥יתmi./Beitfrom/ [the] house of אָבִֽי׃'a.V/ifather/ my

King James Version

Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

Cross-references

Genesis 21:23 Now, therefore, swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or descendants. Show to me and to the country in which you reside the same kindness that I have shown to you.”
2 Samuel 21:6 let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king.
1 Samuel 20:14 And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
Genesis 31:48 Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed.
Genesis 31:53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.
Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.