1 Samuel 20:3 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

³ But David also swore, “Your father knows well that you like me, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

³ And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

³ But David replied, Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

American Standard Version (1901)

³ And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found favor in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

Common English Bible

³ But David solemnly promised in response, “Your father knows full well that you like me. He probably said, ‘Jonathan must not learn about this or he’ll be upset.’ But I promise you—on the LORD’s life and yours!—that I am this close to death!”

Catholic Public Domain Version

³ And he swore again to David. And David said: "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your sight, and so he will say, 'Let Jonathan not know this, lest he be saddened.' So truly, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, there is only one step (if I may say it) separating me from death."

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

³ And he swore again to David. And David said: Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight; and he will say: Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and death.

1 Samuel 20:3 Cross References

2 Samuel 15:21

But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.”

2 Kings 2:2

Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

2 Kings 2:4

Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

2 Kings 2:6

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

Psalm 116:3

The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.

Jeremiah 38:16

So King Zedekiah swore an oath in secret to Jeremiah, “As the Lord lives, who gave us our lives, I will not put you to death or hand you over to these men who seek your life.”

Jeremiah 4:2

and if you swear, “As the Lord lives!” in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall be blessed by you, and by you they shall boast.

Deuteronomy 28:66

Your life shall hang in doubt before you; night and day you shall be in dread, with no assurance of your life.

Deuteronomy 6:13

The Lord your God you shall fear, him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear.

Hebrews 6:16

Humans, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute among them.

1 Samuel 1:26

And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to the Lord.

1 Samuel 17:55

When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”

1 Samuel 20:2

He said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me, and why should my father hide this from me? Never!”

1 Samuel 20:4

Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

1 Samuel 25:26

“Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, since the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like Nabal.

1 Samuel 27:1

David said in his heart, “I shall certainly perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”