Soכֹּהmay YHWHיְהוָהdoיַעֲשֶׂהto Jonathanלִיהוֹנָתָןand soוְכֹהmay he add:יֹסִיףifכִּיit seems goodיֵיטִבtoאֶלmy fatherאָבִיto bring the evilאֶת הָרָעָהupon you,עָלֶיךָI will make it knownוְגָלִיתִיto youאֶת אָזְנֶךָand send you away,וְשִׁלַּחְתִּיךָand you shall goוְהָלַכְתָּin peace.לְשָׁלוֹםAnd may YHWHוִ יְהוָהbeיהִיwith you,עִמָּךְasכַּאֲשֶׁרhe wasהָיָהwithעִםmy father.אָבִי
1 Samuel 20:13
Study it in the app“So may YHWH do to Jonathan and so may he add: if it seems good to my father to bring the evil upon you, I will make it known to you and send you away, and you shall go in peace. And may YHWH be with you, as he was with my father.”
With the Hebrew beneath
1 Samuel 20:13, word by word
- may YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- doיַעֲשֶׂהyaase
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “yaase” appears- to Jonathanיהוֹנָתָןyhonatan
Jonathan
Jonathan: the long form ("Jehonathan") of the same name as יוֹנָתָן; the Hebrew uses both for the same people, and this translation spells them alike. It means "YHWH has given".
Where else “yhonatan” appears- may he addיֹסִיףyosif
add
To put more on top of what is already there, to make it grow.
Where else “yosif” appears- it seems goodיֵיטִבyetiv
go well
For it to go well for someone: "that it may go well with you".
Where else “yetiv” appears- my fatherאָבִavi
father
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appears- to bring the evilרָעָהraa
harm
Something that hurts, a disaster.
Where else “raa” appears- I will make it knownגָלִיתִיgaliti
reveal
To make known, show openly.
Where else “galiti” appears- to youאָזְנֶazne
reveal
To let someone know something, reveal it to him.
Where else “azne” appears- and send you awayשִׁלַּחְתִּיshilachti
let go
To set free, release.
Where else “shilachti” appears- and you shall goהָלַכְתָּhalachta
go
To move on foot from place to place; to set out.
Where else “halachta” appears- in peaceשָׁלוֹםshalom
peace
Living without war or quarrels, in harmony.
Where else “shalom” appears- beיהִיyhi
be
To be: "I will be their Elohim".
Where else “yhi” appears
Translation note
“So may YHWH do… and so may he add” is an oath formula: the one who says it asks for God’s punishment on himself if he does not keep his word (see 3:17).
The context
12Jonathan said to David, “YHWH, Elohim of Israel! When I sound out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, and look, there is good toward David, will I not then send to you and make it known to you?
13 · This verse (above)
14And if I am still alive, will you not show me the loyal love of YHWH, so that I do not die?