1 Samuel 20:42
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.
Original Language Analysis
לֵ֣ךְ
H1980
לֵ֣ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
4 of 27
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לְשָׁל֑וֹם
in peace
H7965
לְשָׁל֑וֹם
in peace
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
5 of 27
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ
forasmuch as we have sworn
H7650
נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ
forasmuch as we have sworn
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
7 of 27
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
בְּשֵׁ֤ם
of us in the name
H8034
בְּשֵׁ֤ם
of us in the name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
10 of 27
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יְהוָ֞ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֞ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יְהוָ֞ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֞ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 27
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה׀
H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
14 of 27
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בֵּינִ֣י
H996
בֵּינִ֣י
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
15 of 27
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ
H996
וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
16 of 27
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וּבֵ֥ין
H996
וּבֵ֥ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
17 of 27
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
זַרְעֲךָ֖
and thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֲךָ֖
and thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
18 of 27
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
וּבֵ֥ין
H996
וּבֵ֥ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
19 of 27
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
זַרְעֲךָ֖
and thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֲךָ֖
and thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
20 of 27
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
עַד
for
H5704
עַד
for
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
21 of 27
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
עוֹלָֽם׃
ever
H5769
עוֹלָֽם׃
ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
22 of 27
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
וַיָּ֖קָם
And he arose
H6965
וַיָּ֖קָם
And he arose
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
23 of 27
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ
H1980
וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
24 of 27
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Historical Context
Covenant blessings at parting invoked divine protection for the journey ahead. The multigenerational scope reflected ancient Near Eastern understanding that covenants bound families across generations. David would fulfill this covenant through Mephibosheth.
Questions for Reflection
- How does certainty about covenant relationships provide peace in uncertain circumstances?
- What future generations might be affected by the commitments you make today?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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.
Jonathan's benediction - 'Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD' - sends David forth grounded in covenant certainty. The eternal scope 'between my seed and thy seed for ever' extends far beyond their immediate crisis. Jonathan's final words commission David into a future neither would fully share but both trusted to God. Peace (shalom) amid parting comes from trust in covenant faithfulness.