1 Samuel 20:8

Therefore thou shalt deale kindly with thy seruant, for thou hast brought thy seruant into a couenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquitie, slay me thy selfe: for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? 1 Samuel 20:8 (KJV)

The passage quoted at the beginning—“Thou shalt therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?”—does not appear in any version of the Bible, including the King James Version. The dialogue between Jonathan and David is recorded in 1 Samuel chapters 18‑20, but the wording is different. ‘Thou shalt therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?’ This verse is part of a conversation between David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. In this passage, David speaks to Jonathan about his safety and Jonathan’s loyalty, amidst the hostility David faces from King Saul. In the biblical narrative, Jonathan and David indeed acknowledge a covenant of friendship (see 1 Sam 18:1; 20:16‑17), which underscores the deep loyalty they share.

Covenant relationship: David and Jonathan have entered into a covenant of the Lord, as recorded in 1 Samuel 18:3. This binding agreement reflects their deep friendship and mutual loyalty.

Kindness and loyalty: David appeals to Jonathan to honor their covenant by dealing kindly with him, seeking protection from King Saul’s hostility.

Self‑sacrifice: David asks Jonathan to take responsibility for his safety, stating that if he has done wrong, Jonathan should execute judgment rather than allow Saul to harm him.

However, the Scripture does not contain Jonathan offering to be killed for David, nor does David ask why Jonathan would bring him to his father. This demonstrates David’s trust in Jonathan’s integrity and willingness to uphold their covenant. Their actual conversation centers on protecting David from King Saul and arranging a secret signal to confirm Saul’s intentions.

David’s concern: David expresses his apprehension about the danger he faces from Saul and questions why Jonathan would bring him to his father if there is any risk of harm.

This highlights David’s awareness of the perilous situation and his reliance on Jonathan’s faithfulness. While the story of Jonathan and David remains a powerful example of friendship, loyalty, and self‑sacrifice, the quoted verses should not be presented as biblical text. The story of David and Jonathan serves as a powerful example of friendship, loyalty, and self‑sacrifice. It teaches the value of standing by our friends in difficult circumstances and honoring commitments to one another.