And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the Lord be between you and me forever.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.”
- KJV And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
- BSB And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever.”
- NASB As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
- NLT And may the Lord make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jonathan declares that the Lord is witness between him and David forever concerning their agreement.
Overview
Jonathan seals their pact by naming the Lord as eternal witness to their covenant. God himself stands between the two friends as guarantor of their sworn loyalty. This appeal to the Lord as ever-present witness underscores that their bond is not merely human sentiment but a covenant held accountable to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Sam 20:14–15You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die;
- 1 Sam 20:42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.
- Gen 31:50If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; behold, God is witness between me and you.”
- Gen 16:5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 20:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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