1 Samuel 19:6
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע
hearkened
H8085
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע
hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 10
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע
sware
H7650
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע
sware
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
5 of 10
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
חַי
liveth
H2416
חַי
liveth
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
7 of 10
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יְהוָ֖ה
As the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
As the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
Oaths invoking deity were binding in ancient cultures. Violating such oaths risked divine punishment. Saul's oath should have settled the matter definitively. Its later violation compounded his guilt.
Questions for Reflection
- How can religious language and practices mask unchanged hearts?
- What does Saul's eventual violation of his oath teach about the importance of internal transformation?
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Analysis & Commentary
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Saul's oath 'As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain' seemed to resolve the crisis. His hearkening to Jonathan's voice suggested repentance. Yet swearing by the LORD while harboring unchanged heart reflects Saul's pattern of religious language without spiritual reality. The temporary reconciliation would prove superficial, revealing that sworn promises without heart change remain unreliable.