Showוְעָשִׂיתָloyal loveחֶסֶדtoעַלyour servant,עַבְדֶּךָforכִּיinto a covenantבִּבְרִיתof YHWHיְהוָהyou have broughtהֵבֵאתָyour servantאֶת עַבְדְּךָwith you.עִמָּךְBut ifוְאִםthere isיֶשׁiniquityעָוֺןin me,בִּיput me to deathהֲמִיתֵנִיyourself;אַתָּהwhyלָמָּה זֶּהshould you bring meתְבִיאֵנִיtoוְעַדyour father?”אָבִיךָ
1 Samuel 20:8
Study it in the app“Show loyal love to your servant, for into a covenant of YHWH you have brought your servant with you. But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; why should you bring me to your father?””
With the Hebrew beneath
1 Samuel 20:8, word by word
- Showעָשִׂיתָasita
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “asita” appears- loyal loveחֶסֶדchesed
faithfulness
Loyal love between people, faithfulness and kindness.
Where else “chesed” appears- your servantעַבְדֶּavde
your servant
"Your servant": a humble way to say "I".
Where else “avde” appears- into a covenantבְרִיתverit
covenant
The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.
Where else “verit” appears- of 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- you have broughtהֵבֵאתָheveta
bring
To bring something or someone.
Where else “heveta” appears- iniquityעָוֺןavon
iniquity
A serious wrong.
Where else “avon” appears- put me to deathהֲמִיתֵhamite
kill
To kill someone.
Where else “hamite” appears- your fatherאָבִיavi
father
The man who begets a child and heads his household.
Where else “avi” appears
Translation note
“A covenant of YHWH”: a covenant made before YHWH, with him as witness (18:3).
The context
7If he says this, ‘Good,’ there is peace for your servant; but if he is truly incensed, know that the evil is decided on his part.
8 · This verse (above)
9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I should indeed know that the evil is decided on the part of my father to come upon you, would I not tell it to you?”