1 Samuel 20:41–42
David and Jonathan part with kisses and tears
Study it word by word41The boy went, and David rose from beside the south, and fell on his face to the ground and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David wept more.
42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have sworn, both of us, in the name of YHWH, saying, ‘YHWH shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He rose and went, and Jonathan went into the city.
In its context
39But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy who was with him, and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.”
…
Its words in the original
- נַּעַרnaar· young man, servant
Boy, young man; also a servant or attendant.
- בָּאba· come, go in, bring
Come, arrive, go in, enter. In the causative form, "bring" or "carry in". "Go in to" a woman is to have marital relations with her.
- דָוִדdavid· David
David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."
- קָםkam· rise, stand, establish
Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.
- אֵצֶלetsel· beside
Beside, next to.
- נֶּגֶבnegev· Negev, south
Negev: the dry region in the south of Canaan; so the word also means "south".
- יִּפֹּלyipol· fall
Fall; also fall upon (attack), lie down, desert to someone. In the causative form, "make fall", throw down, cast (lots).
- אַפָּיapay· anger, nose
Nose, nostrils. Since breathing grows hard in anger, the same word also means "anger"; sometimes "face".
- אַרְצָartsa· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- יִּשְׁתַּחוּyishtachu· bow down, worship
Bow down: bend down to the ground. It was the gesture of respect before someone greater (a king, a visitor) and also the gesture of worshiping God.
- שָׁלֹשׁshalosh· three
Three; also "third" or "three times".
- פְּעָמִיםpeamim· time, step
Time ("this time", "three times"); also step, stroke, or foot of a piece of furniture.
- יִּשְּׁקוּyishku· kiss
Kiss.
- אִישׁish· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- רֵעֵree· neighbor, friend
The other person one deals with: companion, neighbor, friend; in the laws, "neighbor". "One to another" is "a man to his neighbor".
- יִּבְכּוּyivku· weep
Weep, cry; mourn for someone.
- הִגְדִּילhigdil· grow up, become great
Grow up, become great; in the causative form, make great, magnify; also be proud.
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- יְהוֹנָתָןyehonatan· 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".
- לֵךְlech· go, walk
Go, walk, come. Figuratively, the way one lives ("walk with God").
- שָׁלוֹםshalom· peace, well-being
"Shalom": peace in a wide sense; not only the absence of war, but being whole and well: health, safety, good relations. It is also the Hebrew greeting.
- נִשְׁבַּעְנוּnishbanu· swear
Swear: bind oneself solemnly, calling on God as witness; in the causative form, make someone swear. In Hebrew the verb looks like the word "seven".
- שְׁנֵיshene· two
Two.
- שֵׁםshem· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.
- יְהוָהyehva· 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.
- יִהְיֶהyihye· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- זַרְעִzari· offspring, seed
Seed. From there "offspring": the children and generations that come from someone. Also sowing and semen.
- עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal
A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".
- יֵּלַךְyelach· go, walk
Go, walk, depart; in the causative form, lead or bring.
- עִירir· city
City: in ancient times any settlement with protection, however small.