The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:23 Explained

1 Samuel 20:23

KJV: And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

YLT: as to the thing which we have spoken, I and thou, lo, Jehovah is between me and thee -- unto the age.'

Darby: And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.

ASV: And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [as touching] the matter  which thou and I have spoken  of, behold, the LORD  [be] between thee and me for  ever. 

What does 1 Samuel 20:23 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:17-29 - A Friend At Court
Jonathan most have been strongly tempted to ally himself with his friend, that they might face the world together; but he clung loyally to his father's fortunes, though he knew that he was courting failure and overthrow. At the same time he stood nobly forth at the banquet in defense of his friend. What a rebuke for some of us! The Prince of the kings of the earth is not ashamed to call us brethren, but alas, how often we shrink from acknowledging and confessing Him when in company which refuses to own His supremacy. We are silent when His honor is flouted, we flinch before the rising storm; if we do not take sides against Him, we at least do not speak up on His behalf. Such cowards are we in spite of our covenants!
Saul's jealousy broke out with volcanic vehemence. The king and father abused his son with vile epithets, such as are still employed by Orientals. He demanded David's instant execution, and ended by seeking to take Jonathan's life. Truly it may be said of him, as was afterward said of Judas-Satan had entered into him. Be watchful not to give the smallest foothold to the devil. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 20

1  David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11  Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18  Jonathan's token to David
23  Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35  Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 20:23 mean?

And as for the matter which have spoken of I and you indeed Yahweh [be] between me and you - forever -
וְהַ֨דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְנוּ אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה הִנֵּ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם ס

וְהַ֨דָּבָ֔ר  And  as  for  the  matter 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
דִּבַּ֖רְנוּ  have  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֲנִ֣י  of  I 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
וָאָ֑תָּה  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
הִנֵּ֧ה  indeed 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh  [be] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בֵּינִ֥י  between  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
וּבֵינְךָ֖  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
עַד־  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עוֹלָֽם  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 20:23?

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