And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

1 SAMUEL 20:2KJV
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1 Samuel 20:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 20:2 mean?

1 Samuel 20:2 shows Jonathan reassuring David that he is not in danger of being killed by King Saul. Jonathan insists that his father, Saul, would not do anything important or minor without telling him, so he believes David's fears are unfounded.

Jonathan is speaking to David in response to David’s concern that Saul wants to kill him. Jonathan expresses confidence in his relationship with his father, Saul, saying that Saul would not hide such plans from him. This moment highlights Jonathan’s loyalty to David and his initial disbelief about Saul’s intentions.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 20:2

  • "forbid" (חָלִילָה, ḥalilah): This word is an expression meaning "far be it" or "God forbid," showing Jonathan’s strong emotional reaction and his desire to reject the idea completely.
  • "do" (עָשָׂה, ʿasah): Used here for Saul’s actions, this word covers anything Saul might do, whether "great" (גָּדוֹל, gadol) or "small" (קָטֹן, qaton), emphasizing Jonathan’s belief that nothing escapes his notice.
  • "shew" (גָּלָה, galah): This word means "to reveal" or "to uncover," and Jonathan uses it to stress that Saul would make his intentions known to him.
  • "hide" (כָּסָה, kasah): This word means "to conceal" or "to cover," and Jonathan is saying that his father would not keep such a serious matter secret from him.

Why 1 Samuel 20:2 matters

  • This verse shows Jonathan’s trust in his relationship with Saul and his belief that he is fully informed about his father’s plans, which sets up the tension in the story as Jonathan will soon discover the truth.
  • The verse highlights the closeness between Jonathan and David, as well as Jonathan’s loyalty and desire to protect his friend.
  • It helps the reader understand the dramatic irony: Jonathan does not yet realize the depth of Saul’s hostility toward David, even though the audience and David himself are aware of the danger.

Where else these words appear

“forbid” Hebrew H2486 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
  • 1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
  • 2 Samuel 20:20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

“hide” Hebrew H5641 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
  • Psalms 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
  • Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

“small” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.