1 Samuel 20:13

“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.”

1 Samuel 20:13 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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13

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?

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

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