The Meaning of 1 Samuel 24:21 Explained

1 Samuel 24:21

KJV: Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

YLT: and, now, swear to me by Jehovah -- thou dost not cut off my seed after me, nor dost thou destroy my name from the house of my father.'

Darby: Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

ASV: Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Swear  now therefore unto me by the LORD,  that thou wilt not  cut off  my seed  after  me, and that thou wilt not destroy  my name  out of my father's  house. 

What does 1 Samuel 24:21 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 24:16-22 - Kindness Wakens A Better Spirit
David's noble self-restraint, followed as it was by no less noble words, awoke the best side of Saul's nature. Chords began to vibrate that had long been silent. The memory of happier days, before their intercourse had become clouded by jealousy and hatred, came trooping back, and Saul was himself again. Indeed, David's appeal called forth from Saul a confession of his sin; and he went so far as to ask David to spare his house in the coming days, when David would assuredly be king. But, as the sequel proved, this better spirit was but temporary. It was a change of mood, not of will. Let us not form the habit of trusting in our emotional life. Nothing is permanent save the will that is energized by the will of God. Psalms 142:1-7 throws a light on David's state of heart at this period.
The death of a good man is a serious loss at any time, but to Israel, governed by a cruel, wayward king, Samuel's death was cause for special lamentation. His holy life, his fearless denunciation of wrong, his self-sacrifice for the people's welfare, and especially his power in intercessory prayer, made him one of the most important national assets. Let us so live that we may be missed when we go home! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 24

1  David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life
8  He shows thereby his innocence,
16  Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 24:21 mean?

Therefore now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off - my descendants after me that you will not destroy my name from house of my father
וְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה אִם־ תַּכְרִ֥ית אֶת־ זַרְעִ֖י אַֽחֲרָ֑י וְאִם־ תַּשְׁמִ֥יד שְׁמִ֖י מִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי

וְעַתָּ֗ה  Therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה  swear 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לִּי֙  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בַּֽיהוָ֔ה  by  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אִם־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תַּכְרִ֥ית  you  will  not  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
זַרְעִ֖י  my  descendants 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: זֶרַע  
Sense: seed, sowing, offspring.
אַֽחֲרָ֑י  after  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
וְאִם־  that 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תַּשְׁמִ֥יד  you  will  not  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
שְׁמִ֖י  my  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
מִבֵּ֥ית  from  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִֽי  of  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.