1 Samuel 20:3
King James Version
7 Jun 2026
“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.”
נֶפֶשׁ
Life, soul, living being. Nephesh. The animating breath God places in every living creature. In animals it is the life force. In humanity it is the seat of emotion, will and identity. Every nephesh belongs to God — from the creatures in the sea to the deepest cry of the human heart.
חֵן
favor
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חֵן
Grace, favour. Chen. Finding favour in someone's eyes. Unmerited goodwill. Noah found chen with God, not because of his perfection but because of God's sovereign grace.
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חַי
by the life
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חַי
Life, living. Chay. The quality of being alive. The same root as Chayim, life in its fullness. God breathed chay into Adam's nostrils and he became a living soul.
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מָצָא
I have found
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מָצָא
To find, to discover, to encounter. Matsa. God is findable. He is not playing hide and seek. He actively reveals Himself to genuine seekers.
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דָּוִד
David
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דָּוִד
David. Beloved. The shepherd boy who became king. A man after God's own heart. God chooses the surrendered heart not the impressive resume.
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יָדַע
certainly to know
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יָדַע
To know, to perceive, to be acquainted with. Yada. The deepest form of knowing. God knows you completely and loves you still.
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עוֹד
again
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עוֹד
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
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יְהֹוָה
of Yahweh
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יְהֹוָה
LORD. Yahweh. The covenant name of God. I AM WHO I AM. The self-existent eternal One who was is and always will be.
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עָצַב
he should be grieved
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עָצַב
properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger
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פֵּן
lest
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פֵּן
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
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יְהוֹנָתָן
Jonathan
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יְהוֹנָתָן
Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites
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