I Samuel 20:11-17 · Bible study
1 Samuel 20:11-17 Commentary: Field of Promise
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why do Jonathan and David go out to the field? A study of covenant, love, and loyalty in 1 Samuel 20:11-17 with commentary insights.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jonathan and David seal their covenant in private, with Jonathan pledging loyalty to David and asking for chesed to his own house forever.
- Key words: chesed (covenant loyalty, H2617), karat (cut a covenant, H3772), ahavah (love, H0160).
- Main debate: Whether the phrase “O Lord God” (v.12) is a direct address or an oath formula (“By the Lord God”).
- Theological theme: Faithful love that transcends self-interest, rooted in God’s covenantal character.
- Best use: A study on covenant relationships, friendship under pressure, and the legacy of loyalty.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
11“Come,” he replied, “let us go out to the field.” So the two of them went out into the field,
12and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
13But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.
14And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
15and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
17And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
WEB World English Bible 2000
11Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.
12Jonathan said to David, “By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, won’t I then send to you and disclose it to you?
13Yahweh do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you as he has been with my father.
14You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die;
15but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.”
16So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
17Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
KJV King James Version 1769
11And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
13The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not:
15But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
11And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, be witness: when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, or the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?
13Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;
15but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
11And Jonathan saith unto David, `Come, and we go out into the field;' and they go out both of them into the field.
12And Jonathan saith unto David, `Jehovah, God of Israel--when I search my father, about this time to-morrow or the third day , and lo, good is towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear--
13thus doth Jehovah do to Jonathan, and thus doth He add; when the evil concerning thee is good to my father, then I have uncovered thine ear, and sent thee away, and thou hast gone in peace, and Jehovah is with thee, as he was with my father;
14and not only while I am alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah, and I die not,
15but thou dost not cut off thy kindness from my house unto the age, nor in Jehovah's cutting off the enemies of David, each one from off the face of the ground.'
16And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought it from the hand of the enemies of David;
17and Jonathan addeth to cause David to swear, because he loveth him, for with the love of his own soul he hath loved him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
11And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,
13Jehovah do so and much more to Jonathan. Should it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will apprise thee of it, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and Jehovah be with thee, as he has been with my father.
14And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of Jehovah, that I die not,
15but thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever, no, not when Jehovah cuts off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.
16And Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, [saying,] Let Jehovah even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies!
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
11And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field,
12Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover my father's mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to thee,
13May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan, and add still more. But if my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it to thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but if I die,
15Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever, when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may the Lord require it at the hands of David's enemies.
16Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies.
17And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 20:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this scene is pivotal: Jonathan leads David away from the city to a private field so they can speak freely without Saul’s spies. Once there, Jonathan renews their covenant with a solemn oath by Yahweh, God of Israel. He promises to report his father’s disposition toward David, whether good or evil, and to help David escape if needed. The commentators note that Jonathan already foresees David’s future kingship; his words, “May Yahweh be with you as he has been with my father” (v.13), show he accepts God’s transfer of the throne to David. Jonathan then asks David to show chesed, the loyal, covenant kindness of Yahweh, to him and his house forever (vv.14-15). This request is grounded in Jonathan’s love for David, described as loving him “as he loved his own soul” (v.17). The field becomes the sacred space where friendship and covenant loyalty are sealed before God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jonathan and David made a solemn, God-witnessed covenant that promised loyalty and protection across their families.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The opening of Jonathan’s oath (v.12) | Jonathan solemnly invokes God as witness to his promise. | Some interpreters read it as a direct address (“O Lord God”), while others see an implied verb: “(As) the Lord God of Israel (lives/witnesses).” |
| The meaning of “enemies” in v.16 | The covenant is enforced by divine judgment on those who break it. | Some (e.g., Gill) think “enemies of David” refers to David’s political foes; others (e.g., Cambridge) suggest the phrase means the Lord will require the covenant from anyone who acts as David’s enemy, including Jonathan’s house if unfaithful. |
| The nature of Jonathan’s love (v.17) | Jonathan loved David with a deep, self-sacrificing devotion. | Traditionally seen as a model of friendship; some modern readers debate whether the language implies a romantic dimension, but most commentators (and the supplied sources) treat it as covenantal, non-erotic affection. |
| The extent of the covenant | The covenant includes both Jonathan and his descendants (v.15). | Some (e.g., Wesley) see it as primarily personal between David and Jonathan; others (e.g., Gill) emphasize it as a dynastic covenant with David’s whole house. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israelite culture, a field was a place of privacy and safety. Inside the city, especially in Saul’s palace at Gibeah, walls could hide eavesdroppers. By going out into the field, Jonathan and David ensured no one could overhear their plans. The conversation occurs during a time of deep crisis: David has just fled from Naioth, where Saul’s messengers and even Saul himself had been overcome by prophetic ecstasy (1 Samuel 19:18-24). David returns to Jonathan seeking clarity about Saul’s intentions. The field allows them to speak bluntly about Saul’s murderous jealousy.
Covenant-making in that world was serious. Cutting a covenant (karat berit) involved clear obligations, often sealed with an oath and a sign. Jonathan’s oath in verses 12-13 uses the formula “Yahweh do so to Jonathan and more also”, a standard self-curse if he fails to keep his word. He invokes the name of God to guarantee his promise. The request for “the loving kindness of Yahweh” (chesed Yahweh) in verse 14 is loaded with covenantal meaning: chesed is the steadfast, loyal love that God shows His people and that His people should show one another. Jonathan asks for this kind of enduring loyalty, not just for himself but for his descendants forever. This is striking because in that region, when a new dynasty arose, the previous royal family was often exterminated (see 1 Kings 15:29). Jonathan’s plea that David not “cut off” kindness from his house anticipates that danger and asks David to break the brutal custom. The covenant thus extends dynastic protection on both sides, with trust placed in God as witness.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for the core passage. However, several commentators mention that verse 12 lacks an explicit verb in the Hebrew. The LXX and Syriac supply “knows” or “witness,” while two medieval Hebrew manuscripts add chai (“lives”), yielding “As the Lord God of Israel lives.” In verse 17, the LXX reads “Jonathan swore again to David,” while the Masoretic Text says “Jonathan caused David to swear again.” These variants do not alter the overall meaning: a solemn oath was taken. The passage is stable in the major manuscripts.
Reception History
This passage has been celebrated across Christian traditions as a high point of biblical friendship. Early church writers such as John Chrysostom used Jonathan as an example of selfless love and humility, a prince who willingly stepped aside for God’s anointed. In the monastic tradition, Jonathan’s love for David was seen as a type of agape, pointing to Christ’s laying down his life for a friend. Reformed theologians, including Matthew Henry, highlighted the covenant loyalty (chesed) as a model for Christian conduct and the care of one’s household. The passage has also inspired art and literature, especially in hymns about friendship and loyalty. In modern Bible study, it is often used to teach covenant-making, integrity under pressure, and the beauty of godly relationship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Privacy reveals hearts. Jonathan and David go to the field to speak freely. Their friendship is tested by Saul’s anger, but they choose to trust each other in the open, away from the court’s pressures.
- Covenant seals love. Jonathan renews the covenant with a solemn oath. He invokes God as witness and commits to protecting David, even at the cost of his own inheritance.
- Loyalty endures beyond death. Jonathan asks for chesed not only for himself but for his house “forever.” This covenant looks to the future, trusting David’s line and God’s faithfulness.
Five-point outline
- A private conversation: The field as a place of honest, safe dialogue (v.11).
- An oath before God: Jonathan invokes Yahweh as witness to his promise to reveal Saul’s intent (vv.12-13).
- Anticipating God’s plan: Jonathan blesses David with “Yahweh be with you,” acknowledging David’s future reign (v.13).
- A plea for covenant kindness: Jonathan requests chesed for himself and his descendants, guarding against dynastic violence (vv.14-15).
- Love that binds: Jonathan’s love for David (“as his own soul”) drives him to secure the covenant with repeated oaths (vv.16-17).
Illustration hooks
- The unguarded moment: Think of a time you needed to speak to a trusted friend away from others, in a car or on a walk. That space allowed honesty. The field was that space for Jonathan and David.
- The legacy of kindness: A family business that doesn’t cut off the previous owner’s children from employment or support. Jonathan asks David to break the usual pattern of purging rivals and instead show lasting kindness.
- Love that gives up a throne: Jonathan stands to lose his own claim to rule, yet he rejoices in David’s calling. He models selfless love that celebrates another’s success.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I balance loyalty to my family with loyalty to God’s purposes when they conflict (as Jonathan does)?
- Is it biblical to make promises with God as witness when the outcome is uncertain?
- How can I show “covenant kindness” to others when it costs me something?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows two friends navigating a dangerous situation with honesty, prayer, and a covenant that looks beyond themselves. As you read 1 Samuel 20:11-17 together, notice how Jonathan takes the lead in making promises and asking for chesed, the loyal love of God. The field is more than a location; it is a space set apart for truth and commitment.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Jonathan chose to go out to the field? What does this tell you about their situation and their relationship?
- Jonathan begins his speech with “By Yahweh, the God of Israel” (v.12). What effect does invoking God’s name have on the weight of his promise?
- In verse 13, Jonathan says, “May Yahweh be with you as he has been with my father.” What does this statement reveal about Jonathan’s understanding of God’s plan?
- Jonathan asks David to show him “the loving kindness of Yahweh” (v.14). What does the word chesed suggest about the kind of loyalty Jonathan expects?
- Why does Jonathan extend the covenant to his house forever (v.15)? What fears or hopes drive this request?
- Verse 16 says, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” Who do you think the “enemies” are: David’s political foes, or anyone (including Jonathan’s family) who breaks the covenant?
- How does Jonathan’s love for David (v.17) shape the way he makes and renews this covenant? What can we learn about love that seeks the other’s good even at personal cost?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Joshua 22:22 | “The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us today), |
| Job 31:4 | Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps? |
| Psalms 17:3 | You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey. |
| Psalms 139:1 | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. |
| Psalms 139:4 | For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. |
| Proverbs 20:5 | Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. |
| Proverbs 25:2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. |
| Proverbs 25:3 | As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes a textual gap in Jonathan's oath and suggests supplying "liveth" so it reads "As the Lord God of Israel liveth." He also observes that Jonathan clearly knew God had chosen David for the kingdom, since he asks David to show covenant kindness to him and his family when David becomes king.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that God gave Jonathan a strong inner certainty that David would become king. This brought Jonathan the comfort he deserved: he knew his own descendants would receive kindness from David in the future.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator explains that Jonathan asks David for a promise of ongoing kindness because he fears David might follow the brutal custom of a new king murdering his predecessor's family. Jonathan already foresees David's kingship and wants protection both for himself and his descendants, a promise David later kept with Mephibosheth.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Jonathan's love for David is so selfless that he willingly sets aside his own royal claim and makes a covenant binding his whole house. He asks only that David remember mercy to his descendants forever, showing that true godly friendship looks beyond the present to future generations under God's care.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Jonathan's oath, sworn by the Lord God of Israel, includes a careful plan: a messenger if Saul is friendly, but Jonathan coming personally if evil threatens. The covenant extends beyond the two men to their entire households forever. Jonathan insists David swear again, not from fear, but because he loves David as his own soul.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Jonathan as the chief speaker in this private dialogue, praising his selfless affection, warm piety, and clear conviction that God will disinherit his own family to give David the throne. Their covenant, sealed with prayer and oath, stands as an unmatched example of noble friendship and moral beauty.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasize that Jonathan's confidence in Saul's goodwill was based on ignorance: Saul's recent murderous attacks had occurred during fits of insanity that passed. David, however, looked deeper into Saul's heart and recognized a settled hatred beyond temporary madness. Their covenant was a solemn "covenant of Jehovah," made with a divine oath.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the remarkable self-denial in this covenant: Jonathan, the king's son, willingly sets aside his own claim to the throne and binds himself and his descendants to David's future house. The love that drives him looks beyond the present danger to secure lasting kindness for his family even after his own death.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Jonathan's abrupt address to God springs from deep emotion. He extends the earlier personal covenant to cover their entire houses, expecting reciprocal loyalty. Jonathan's deep friendship for David moves him to secure this covenant for all future generations.