1 Samuel 20:21

Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back to me. If you hear me say to him, ‘They are closer to me’, then as surely as Yahweh lives, you will know that everything is fine, and that Saul will not kill you.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.

In Context

20I will come out and shoot three arrows as though I were trying to shoot at a target. The arrows will hit the ground close to the pile of stones.

22But if I tell him, ‘The arrows are farther away’, you will know that you must leave immediately, because Yahweh wants you to run away.

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

Cross References

Jeremiah 5:2But when people there say, ‘I solemnly declare that as surely as Yahweh lives, I will do what he says,’ they are lying.”

Amos 8:14Those who ◄make oaths/solemnly promise to do something► using the names of their shameful gods of Samaria, and those who solemnly promise to do something using the name of the god of Dan, and those who solemnly promise to do something using the name of the god of Beersheba, will all die; and they will never live again.”

Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 20:10-24

Jonathan's Covenant with David. ( b. c. 1058.) 9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? 11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Samuel 20:21