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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/24-20.htm" title="1 Samuel 24:20">◄</a> 1 Samuel 24:21 <a href="/1_samuel/24-22.htm" title="1 Samuel 24:22">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/24.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/24.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father&#8217s family.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore swear now to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father&#8217s household.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household (extended family).”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father&#8217s family.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Promise me with the LORD as your witness, that you won't wipe out my descendants. Let them live to keep my family name alive. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Swear an oath to the LORD for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father's family."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But promise me in the LORD's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now swear to me by the LORD that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won't erase my name from my father's family." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father?s house.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So now swear to me in the LORD's name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and now, swear to me by YHWH [that] you do not cut off my seed after me, nor do you destroy my name from the house of my father.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and, now, swear to me by Jehovah -- thou dost not cut off my seed after me, nor dost thou destroy my name from the house of my father.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And now swear to me by Jehovah if thou wilt cut off my seed after me, and if thou wilt destroy my name from my father's house.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 24:22> Swear to me in the Lord that you will not take away my offspring after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants and that you will not blot out my name from my father’s house.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Swear to me by LORD JEHOVAH that you will not destroy my seed after me, and you will not destroy my name from the house of my father!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Now then swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, that thou wilt not blot out my name from the house of my father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/24-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=7269" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/24.htm">David's Oath to Saul</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</span>Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">So now,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7650.htm" title="7650: hiš·šā·ḇə·‘āh (V-Nifal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- A primitive root; propr. To be complete, but used only as a denominative from sheba'; to seven oneself, i.e. Swear.">swear</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">to me</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">by the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">that you will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: taḵ·rîṯ (V-Hifil-Imperf-2ms) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">cut off</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: zar·‘î (N-msc:: 1cs) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">my descendants</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rāy (Prep:: 1cs) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after."></a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: wə·’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/8045.htm" title="8045: taš·mîḏ (V-Hifil-Imperf-2ms) -- To be exterminated or destroyed. A primitive root; to desolate.">or wipe out</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: šə·mî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">my name</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">from my father’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: mib·bêṯ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">house.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-44.htm">Matthew 5:44</a></span><br />But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-20.htm">Romans 12:20-21</a></span><br />On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Proverbs 25:21-22</a></span><br />If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-17.htm">Genesis 50:17-21</a></span><br />‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. / His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-27.htm">Luke 6:27-28</a></span><br />But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-14.htm">Matthew 6:14-15</a></span><br />For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-17.htm">Romans 12:17-19</a></span><br />Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-9.htm">1 Peter 3:9</a></span><br />Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/23-4.htm">Exodus 23:4-5</a></span><br />If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. / If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/24-17.htm">Proverbs 24:17-18</a></span><br />Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, / or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-34.htm">Luke 23:34</a></span><br />Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Ephesians 4:31-32</a></span><br />Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. / Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-12.htm">Colossians 3:12-13</a></span><br />Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. / Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-15.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:15</a></span><br />Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-23.htm">1 Peter 2:23</a></span><br />When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.</p><p class="hdg">Swear</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/20-14.htm">1 Samuel 20:14-17</a></b></br> And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/21-23.htm">Genesis 21:23</a></b></br> Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: <i>but</i> according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/31-48.htm">Genesis 31:48,53</a></b></br> And Laban said, This heap <i>is</i> a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; … </p><p class="hdg">that thou</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/21-6.htm">2 Samuel 21:6-8</a></b></br> Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, <i>whom</i> the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give <i>them</i>… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/24-11.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-42.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-10.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-16.htm">End</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-18.htm">House</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-22.htm">Household</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-17.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-42.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-17.htm">Swear</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-20.htm">Wilt</a> <a href="/joshua/7-9.htm">Wipe</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/2_samuel/21-6.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-9.htm">Destroy</a> <a href="/2_samuel/1-15.htm">End</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-22.htm">House</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-6.htm">Household</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-22.htm">Oath</a> <a href="/2_samuel/4-8.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-15.htm">Swear</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-17.htm">Wilt</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-13.htm">Wipe</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 24</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/24-1.htm">David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/24-8.htm">He shows thereby his innocence,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/24-16.htm">Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/24.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/24.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>So now, swear to me by the LORD</b><br>In this phrase, Saul is asking David to make a solemn oath before God, which was a common practice in ancient Israel to ensure the seriousness and binding nature of a promise. Swearing by the LORD indicates the invocation of God's authority and presence as a witness to the oath. This reflects the cultural and religious significance of oaths in biblical times, where breaking an oath was seen as a serious offense against God (<a href="/numbers/30-2.htm">Numbers 30:2</a>). The use of God's name in the oath underscores the gravity of the request and the trust Saul places in David's integrity.<p><b>that you will not cut off my descendants</b><br>Saul's request for the protection of his descendants is rooted in the historical context of royal succession in the ancient Near East, where new kings often eliminated the family of their predecessors to secure their own throne. Saul's plea reflects his awareness of the potential threat to his lineage due to David's rising prominence. This request also highlights the theme of covenant loyalty, as David had previously shown kindness to Jonathan, Saul's son, and had made a covenant with him (<a href="/1_samuel/18-3.htm">1 Samuel 18:3</a>). This foreshadows David's later actions in <a href="/2_samuel/9.htm">2 Samuel 9</a>, where he honors his promise by showing kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son.<p><b>or wipe out my name from my father’s house.</b><br>The concern for preserving one's name and legacy was significant in the ancient world, as it was tied to one's honor and memory. Saul's request reflects a desire for his family line to continue and be remembered, which was a common concern in biblical times (<a href="/proverbs/10-7.htm">Proverbs 10:7</a>). The phrase "wipe out my name" suggests the complete eradication of Saul's lineage and legacy, which would be a source of shame and dishonor. This request also connects to the broader biblical theme of God's faithfulness in preserving the line of David, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the "Son of David" (<a href="/matthew/1.htm">Matthew 1:1</a>). Saul's plea, therefore, indirectly points to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through David's lineage.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>Anointed future king of Israel, known for his faithfulness to God and his complex relationship with King Saul.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a></b><br>The first king of Israel, who becomes increasingly paranoid and hostile towards David, fearing the loss of his throne.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness_of_en_gedi.htm">The Wilderness of En Gedi</a></b><br>A rugged, desert area near the Dead Sea where David and his men hide from Saul.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_cave_encounter.htm">The Cave Encounter</a></b><br>A significant event where David spares Saul's life, demonstrating mercy and respect for God's anointed king.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_oath.htm">The Oath</a></b><br>Saul requests David to swear an oath to preserve his family line, acknowledging David's future as king.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_god's_anointed.htm">Respect for God's Anointed</a></b><br>David's respect for Saul, despite Saul's hostility, teaches us to honor those in authority, trusting God's timing and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_mercy.htm">The Power of Mercy</a></b><br>David's decision to spare Saul's life exemplifies the power of mercy and forgiveness, encouraging us to extend grace even to our adversaries.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_integrity.htm">The Importance of Integrity</a></b><br>The oath David makes to Saul underscores the importance of keeping our promises and maintaining integrity in our relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trusting_god's_sovereignty.htm">Trusting God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>David's restraint and trust in God's plan remind us to rely on God's sovereignty rather than taking matters into our own hands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_and_future_generations.htm">Legacy and Future Generations</a></b><br>Saul's concern for his descendants highlights the importance of considering the impact of our actions on future generations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_24.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 24</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_2_sam_24_and_1_chr_21_differ.htm">Why do 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 differ in their attribution of who prompted David's census--God or Satan?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_saul's_hostility_persist_later.htm">If Saul recognized David’s righteousness (1 Samuel 24:16–21), why did hostilities continue in later chapters, suggesting inconsistency? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_incited_david's_census.htm">Who incited David to take a census? (2 Samuel 24:1 vs. 1 Chronicles 21:1)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_david_allow_saul's_heirs'_execution.htm">In 2 Samuel 21:5-6, why does David permit the execution of Saul's descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent's wrongdoing?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/24.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) <span class= "bld">Swear now therefore unto me.</span>--So strongly was Saul convinced at this moment that David would at no distant period of time occupy the throne of Israel that he entreated him, when that day should come, not to destroy all his (Saul's) children. This barbarous custom has been always too common a practice in the jealous East. It seems to have been equally dreaded by Jonathan, who made--it will be remembered--this condition of mercy to be shown by David in his day of power to his (Jonathan's) children a part of the solemn covenant concluded between them. (See <a href="/1_samuel/20-15.htm" title="But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.">1Samuel 20:15</a>.) In the frequent dynastic changes which took place in the kingdom of Israel, we have instances of such wholesale massacres of the royal family of the fallen house. (See <a href="/1_kings/15-29.htm" title="And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:">1Kings 15:29</a>, where Baasha slew King Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, and took his throne. Then Baasha, we read, "smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed; "and in <a href="/1_kings/16-11.htm" title="And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that urinates against a wall, neither of his kinfolks, nor of his friends.">1Kings 16:11</a>, where Zimri murdered his master, King Baasha. Zimri, "as soon as he sat on his throne, slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.") A similar massacre is described, only with more ghastly details, in 2 Kings 10, where "Jehu slew all that remained to Ahab in Samaria." There the story is peculiarly an Oriental scene of history, with the seventy baskets containing the seventy heads of princes presented as an acceptable offering to the new stern king of Israel--Jehu. It was, therefore, no vain dread of what might happen in the future which made King Saul ask this of David. Doubtless the fear of some such awful catastrophe happening to his own loved children and friends was no small part of the punishment of Saul.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/24-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So now,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַתָּ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">swear</span><br /><span class="heb">הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה</span> <span class="translit">(hiš·šā·ḇə·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7650.htm">Strong's 7650: </a> </span><span class="str2">To seven oneself, swear</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to me</span><br /><span class="heb">לִּי֙</span> <span class="translit">(lî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּֽיהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that you will not</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cut off</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּכְרִ֥ית</span> <span class="translit">(taḵ·rîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my descendants</span><br /><span class="heb">זַרְעִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(zar·‘î)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or wipe out</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּשְׁמִ֥יד</span> <span class="translit">(taš·mîḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8045.htm">Strong's 8045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be exterminated or destroyed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my name</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from my father's</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִֽי׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">house.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מִבֵּ֥ית</span> <span class="translit">(mib·bêṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/24-21.htm">1 Samuel 24:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/24-21.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 24:21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/24-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 24:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 24:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/24-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 24:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 24:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>