1 Samuel 20:8

“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?””

1 Samuel 20:8 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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8

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?”

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