1 Samuel 20:3

Authorized King James Version

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And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

Original Language Analysis

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע sware H7650
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע sware
Strong's: H7650
Word #: 1 of 28
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
ע֜וֹד H5750
ע֜וֹד
Strong's: H5750
Word #: 2 of 28
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
דָּוִ֗ד And David H1732
דָּוִ֗ד And David
Strong's: H1732
Word #: 3 of 28
david, the youngest son of jesse
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר and he saith H559
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר and he saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 4 of 28
to say (used with great latitude)
יֵֽדַע certainly H3045
יֵֽדַע certainly
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 5 of 28
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
יֵֽדַע certainly H3045
יֵֽדַע certainly
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 6 of 28
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אָבִ֗יךָ Thy father H1
אָבִ֗יךָ Thy father
Strong's: H1
Word #: 7 of 28
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 28
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מָצָ֤אתִי that I have found H4672
מָצָ֤אתִי that I have found
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 9 of 28
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חֵן֙ grace H2580
חֵן֙ grace
Strong's: H2580
Word #: 10 of 28
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ in thine eyes H5869
בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ in thine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 11 of 28
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר and he saith H559
וַיֹּ֛אמֶר and he saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 12 of 28
to say (used with great latitude)
אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 13 of 28
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יֵֽדַע certainly H3045
יֵֽדַע certainly
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 14 of 28
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
זֹ֥את H2063
זֹ֥את
Strong's: H2063
Word #: 15 of 28
this (often used adverb)
יְהֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Let not Jonathan H3083
יְהֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Let not Jonathan
Strong's: H3083
Word #: 16 of 28
jehonathan, the name of four israelites
פֶּן H6435
פֶּן
Strong's: H6435
Word #: 17 of 28
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יֵֽעָצֵ֑ב this lest he be grieved H6087
יֵֽעָצֵ֑ב this lest he be grieved
Strong's: H6087
Word #: 18 of 28
properly, to carve, i.e., fabricate or fashion
וְאוּלָ֗ם but truly H199
וְאוּלָ֗ם but truly
Strong's: H199
Word #: 19 of 28
however or on the contrary
וְחֵ֣י liveth H2416
וְחֵ֣י liveth
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 20 of 28
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יְהוָה֙ as the LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ as the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 21 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְחֵ֣י liveth H2416
וְחֵ֣י liveth
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 22 of 28
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ and as thy soul H5315
נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ and as thy soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 23 of 28
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 24 of 28
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כְפֶ֔שַׂע there is but a step H6587
כְפֶ֔שַׂע there is but a step
Strong's: H6587
Word #: 25 of 28
a stride
בֵּינִ֖י H996
בֵּינִ֖י
Strong's: H996
Word #: 26 of 28
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וּבֵ֥ין H996
וּבֵ֥ין
Strong's: H996
Word #: 27 of 28
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
הַמָּֽוֶת׃ between me and death H4194
הַמָּֽוֶת׃ between me and death
Strong's: H4194
Word #: 28 of 28
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

Analysis & Commentary

And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

David's oath 'as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth' invokes both divine and human witness. The phrase 'there is but a step between me and death' captures the precariousness of his situation. David's perception differed from Jonathan's optimism; experience had taught him Saul's implacable hatred. Sometimes friends closest to danger perceive its reality more clearly than those at safer distance.

Historical Context

Double oaths invoking God and a respected person intensified solemnity. David's 'step' (pesa') imagery suggests an immediate boundary between life and death. His multiple escapes had sharpened his sense of ongoing danger.

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