What Does 1 Samuel 20:14 Mean in the King James?

And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

1 Samuel 20:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The “kindness” Jonathan asks for is chesed, faithful love sturdy enough to become another person’s protection.

THE MEANING

This verse sees your vulnerability held within a bond of faithful love, expressed through another person’s loyal action. Life is at stake in the request; chesed here is care with the strength to endure.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that care lasts only while it is easy or advantageous: here, loyal love reaches into another person’s danger.

THE ROOT

חֶסֶד

chesed

GROWS FROM

ח־ס־ד

ḥ-s-d

Loyal, steadfast care expressed through action.

“Kindness” can sound like a passing courtesy, while chesed carries the weight of faithful love. Jonathan’s request makes that love concrete: it is care enacted where life is at stake.

ALSO GROWS

ḥāsad: To show loyal kindness through action.

חָסַד

This verbal form makes chesed something enacted; the request is for love to be shown, not merely felt.

ḥāsîd: One characterized by steadfast devotion.

חָסִיד

The related word links the care being requested with the character of the person who gives it.

THE PATTERN

Faithful love becomes a durable bond when it acts for someone whose safety depends on another’s care.

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

Ruth 1:8 · KJVThe same chesed is named as loyal care already shown to Naomi and now sought for her daughters-in-law.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:1 · KJVThe psalm names the enduring quality of chesed: faithful love does not run out with the moment.

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 10:37 · KJVHere, care becomes visible in what someone does for a vulnerable person.

THE THREAD

But 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.

1 Samuel 20:15 · KJV

The same Hebrew word, chesed, appears again: the requested faithful love reaches beyond Jonathan to his household. The next verse says the bond endures even after the danger has passed.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us