1 Samuel 20:16
◄  1 Samuel 20:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David's enemies to account."

New Living Translation (©2007)
So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, "May the LORD destroy all your enemies!"

English Standard Version (©2001)
And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD hold David's enemies accountable."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: "May the LORD punish any violation of this covenant by the hand of David's enemies."

NET Bible (©2006)
and called David's enemies to account." So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
At that time, if Jonathan's name is cut off from David's family, then may the LORD punish David's house."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

American King James Version
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

American Standard Version
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,'saying , And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David's enemies.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies.

Darby Bible Translation
And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let Jehovah even require it at the hand of David's enemies!

English Revised Version
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And the LORD shall require it at the hand of David's enemies.

Webster's Bible Translation
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

World English Bible
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Yahweh will require it at the hand of David's enemies."

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought it from the hand of the enemies of David;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted sinners! how great then ought to be the force and effects of our love to him, to his cause, and his people!

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - This verse also is very difficult, but it is probably to be taken as an insertion of the narrator: "So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David" - that is, so as to bind his descendants - "saying, Let Jehovah require it at the hand of David's enemies." These last words probably are a euphemism, and mean David himself. So Rashi explains the words. The courtesy of an Oriental forbade his saying, May Jehovah punish David for it, but he prays that God would requite it on some one. But if the Divine anger visits even David's enemies for it, how much more the guilty perjurer himself.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,.... Not with David himself only, which was now renewed, but with his family also:

saying, let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies; take vengeance on Jonathan, or on any of his posterity, should they break this covenant, by showing themselves enemies to David, and his crown; and, on the other hand, also on David, and his posterity, should they not show kindness to Jonathan and his seed, according to the tenor of this covenant.

1 Samuel 20:16 Parallel Commentaries

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Jonathan and David Renew Covenant
…15But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD has 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. …

Deuteronomy 23:21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
1 Samuel 20:42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'" Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
1 Samuel 22:8 Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."
1 Samuel 25:22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
Jeremiah 40:9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians," he said. "Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.