1 Samuel 20:13Yahweh 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: and Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.
The setting
Field outside Gibeah, Israel, ~1020 BC. Crown prince Jonathan swears to betray his own father if necessary to save David's life...
The emotion here: fierce loyalty overriding every instinct for self-preservation and family honor
The original word
shalom (שָׁלוֹם) — complete peace, safety, wholeness - Jonathan wants David to escape with everything intact
Why it matters
Jonathan was next in line for the throne, but he's promising to help the man who would replace him as king
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 20:13
Jonathan is literally choosing David over his own crown — he knows David will be king instead of him
Common misconceptionPeople think Jonathan didn't know David would be king, but he absolutely knew — he's consciously choosing to give up his throne for friendship.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 20:13
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 20:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 20:13 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Jonathan. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include loyalty, oath, protection. Notable phrases: Yahweh do so to Jonathan; if I don't disclose it. This verse contains a promise of God.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 20:13 mean to you, today?
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