1 Samuel 20:9

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee, for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would I not be obliged to show it to thee?

1 Samuel 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:9

And Jonathan said, far be it from thee
To entertain such a thought of me, or to have the least suspicion of me, that I should conceal my father's ill intentions against thee, if known to me;

for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come
upon thee, then would I not tell it thee?
certainly I would; canst thou doubt of my kindness and fidelity? surely thou hast no reason, when such a covenant of friendship subsists between us, and there has not been the least breach of it on either side.

1 Samuel 20:9 In-Context

7 If he should say, It is well; thy slave shall have peace; but if he is very wroth, then be sure that the evil is determined in him.

8 Therefore, thou shalt deal in mercy with thy slave, for thou hast brought thy slave into a covenant of the LORD with thee; notwithstanding, if there is iniquity in me, slay me thyself, for why should thou bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee, for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would I not be obliged to show it to thee?

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? Or what if thy father answers thee roughly?

11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And both of them went out into the field.