1 Samuel 20:16 nasb — So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies."

NASB

"So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies.""

— 1 Samuel 20:16, NASB

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1 Samuel 20:16 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 20 — Context

13

"If it please my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.

14

"If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die?

15

"You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

16

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies."

17

Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.

18

Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.

19

"When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.

1 Samuel 20:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 20:16 say?
1 Samuel 20:16 in the NASB reads: “So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies."”
Where is 1 Samuel 20:16 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 20:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 20, verse 16.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 20:16.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 20:16 in?
1 Samuel 20:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 20:16?
1 Samuel 20:16 reads (NASB): “So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David's enemies."” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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