The Meaning of 1 Samuel 19:6 Explained

1 Samuel 19:6

KJV: And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

YLT: And Saul hearkeneth to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul sweareth, 'Jehovah liveth -- he doth not die.'

Darby: And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, As Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death!

ASV: And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Saul  hearkened  unto the voice  of Jonathan:  and Saul  sware,  [As] the LORD  liveth,  he shall not  be slain. 

What does 1 Samuel 19:6 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 19:1-12 - Noble Intercession Implacable Hate
Not content with exchanging his dress and weapons with his friend, Jonathan pleaded David's cause at court. He had the royal ear and spoke as David's daysman. As he touched upon his brother-in-law's devotion, modesty and courage, the father's heart relented. We must not, however, take Jonathan's interposition as illustrating our Lord's, because Jesus stands for us in the presence of One whose love requires no argument. But learn to abide in "the secret place of the Most High," and hide thyself, until thou hast learned what thou should do, 1 Samuel 19:2.
While Saul's troops were watching the house on the outside, the psalmist was appealing to God as his strength, and hiding in Him as his strong tower. See Psalms 59:9; Psalms 59:17. Wait on God during the hours when your enemy is waiting for you. We must not only pray for God's help, but expect and look out for it. All true waiting must be combined with singing. Sing, persecuted soul, in sure confidence that the glorious deliverance awaiting you is near at hand! Notice that Holy Scripture never conceals and never palliates wrong-doing. It does not excuse "lies of necessity." See Leviticus 19:11; Colossians 3:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 19

1  Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh
4  He cherishes Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah
9  Hannah in grief prays for a child
12  Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesses her
19  Hannah, having born Samuel, stays at home till he is weaned
24  She presents him, according to her vow, to the Lord

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 19:6 mean?

so heeded Saul the voice of Jonathan and swore Saul lives [As] Yahweh not he shall be killed
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע שָׁא֖וּל בְּק֣וֹל יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע שָׁא֔וּל חַי־ יְהוָ֖ה אִם־ יוּמָֽת

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע  so  heeded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
שָׁא֖וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
בְּק֣וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן  of  Jonathan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹונָתָן  
Sense: a son of king Saul and a friend of David.
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע  and  swore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
שָׁא֔וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
חַי־  lives 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
יְהוָ֖ה  [As]  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יוּמָֽת  he  shall  be  killed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.